The shot has been tipped in, the countdown has finished, and the confetti has flown — the New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time in 53 years.
While this one could ostensibly last a lifetime, the Knicks certainly hope that’s not the case. Repeating will require a look at the past, present, and future, including a deeper look at this legendary championship trek.
With that in mind, Knicks X-Factor looks back on the season that was, on a case-by-case basis, going player-by-player down the path ahead (in alphabetical order). We tip this study off with Jose Alvarado…
- Name: Jose Alvarado
- Season: 5th season (1st with Knicks)
- Key Stats: 6.6 points, 3.8 assists, 12 net rating
How it started
The Brooklyn native Alvarado had already established himself as a defensive pest after arriving as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech in 2021, enough to generate a lasting career in the NBA, namely with the New Orleans Pelicans.
He made his largest impact as a defender, earning the popular nickname of “Grand Theft Alvarado” for his stealthy defensive work that would target otherwise casual inbound walk-ups.
Before he phoned home (or the other way around, in this case), Alvarado was one of the few sources of hardwood sanity in the Big Easy.
While the attention rightfully centered on the team’s frightening lack of stability in the Zion Williamson era, Alvarado quietly put up a career-best season amidst injury woes for Dejounte Murray. But he also became relatively redundant when the birds bagged Jordan Poole in free agency, and Jeremiah Fears in the NBA draft.
An alum of Queens’ Christ the King High School (notably for producing other metropolitan hardwood savants like Tina Charles and Jayson Williams), Alvarado lingered on the Knicks’ radar for a while. Little more needs to be said about the way the Knicks solved their long-standing Jalen Brunson problem, but finding a first mate at the one proved to be difficult.
After all, the Knicks are being patient with Tyler Kolek, and a hodgepodge of veterans (Alec Burks, Cameron Payne, Delon Wright) filled the role after Miles McBride warranted a larger role.
How it went
New Orleans’ early meandering Alvarado came home as the Knicks’ headlining acquisition of the 2026 trade deadline. New York essentially gave up on its disappointing offseason centerpiece from abroad, Guerschon Yabusele, to obtain Alvarado’s services, ending Dalen Terry’s Knicks career before it ever began.
Despite his metropolitan brevity, it’s safe to say that Alvarado has helped president Leon Rose atone for one of his few misfires: he burst onto the Knicks scene with a 12-point, two-steal performance in a Super Bowl Sunday win in Boston before he needed but 19 minutes to sink eight three-pointers in a shellacking of the Sixers in Philadelphia.
In the playoffs, Alvarado’s appearances were mostly limited to cameos amidst New York blowouts, such as a 12-point outing in a Game 5 win over Atlanta in the opening round. But he earned a promotion when the games mattered most, and the Knicks were better off for it.
Alvarado had the second-best offensive rating among all participants with at least 10 minutes per game in the Finals and placed fourth in net rating, alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart, using the same criteria.
Finest hour
Five from New York set the stage for one epic Saturday night. While primarily known for his defensive efforts, Alvarado’s offensive closeout helped the Knicks place their signature on the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in the penultimate game against the San Antonio Spurs.
For one night, Mariano Rivera had nothing on Alvarado’s metropolitan closing duties, granted entry into the final lineup of Game 4 when Mikal Bridges was struggling. While Brunson was no doubt the head chef, Alvarado whipped up the sweetest dessert by holding a role in all but two of the Knicks’ final 15 points.
Alvarado scored on back-to-back possessions (sending Victor Wembanyama,, the target of Alvarado’s wrath amist questionable defensive play in Game 3, astray on hesitation double) when the Spurs kept the lead at a steady seven and dished out the assist on Brunson’s triple that narrowed the gap to one.
Alvarado also got the rebound on De’Aaron Fox’s ill-advised attempt on a sealer, which led to OG Anunoby’s titanic tip-in that rendered Manhattan hysterical.
They said it
“Just with his energy, with who he is both on and off the court, everything he brings to the table — he’s just a great person to be around, as well. He’s already impacting our team, I think he’s going to be great for the Garden — our fans are going to love him if they don’t already. — Brunson on Alvarado after his Philadelphia breakout (h/t John Flanigan, SNY)
“When you talk about somebody who not only lives up to the moment but plays with his emotion, and utilizes that to his advantage, that’s a rare quality. A lot of times, you play with a lot of people, and they play with emotion, but it gets the better of them. For Jose, that emotion is what drives him and makes him take it to another level. … He has so much to his basketball game that people don’t give credit to, and I’m glad, on this stage, on a night like this, he was able to show the world what he can do when he’s given a chance. Jose Alvarado clearly told everyone in the world tonight he’s a big-time player.” — Towns on Alvarado after Game 4 (h/t Jeff Zillgitt, NBA.com)
What’s next?
As of press time, Alvarado is one of the headlining moves of the Knicks’ offseason, turning his $4.5 million player option into a three-year deal worth over triple that. He joins a group of returnees that also includes Mohamad Diawara and Landry Shamet, while the fates of Jordan Clarkson and Mitchell Robinson are less assured.
Having endeared itself to him as a full-time home, New York could benefit from a full season of Alvarado antics. Having such a strong two-sided weapon off the bench could not only give the Knicks a sense of insurance if/when they decide Kolek is finally ready for larger duties.
Jose Alvarado will only win MVP in the hearts and minds of New York Knicks fans. The ring that he and his teammates will don next fall suggests he’s closer to such an honor than common viewers would care to admit.
