Jose Alvarado & His Fiery Championship DNA

Garrison Giddens • June 14, 2026

Paying homage to a one-of-one underdog & fan favorite who deserves the title of "Champion".

This past Winter, I was at the Suns-Pelicans game on December 28th.

The arena wasn’t at full capacity, the roster wasn’t at full strength, and the Pels entered the night with an 8-24 record.

It’s hard to expect anyone to battle at 100% when the stakes are low, the season looks pissed away, and the grind stretches over an arduous 82 games.

Nobody got that message through to Jose Alvarado.

Down four late in the 3rd quarter, Jose was in his normal routine, extending ball pressure past half-court and making his matchup, along with the screener on the play, Mark Williams, work.

Things got testy fast, and the result was fist to cuffs… between a barely 6-foot guard and a 7’1 giant.


I’m not here to glorify fighting, but being at the game that night left me with two clear takeaways:

  1. Jose Alvarado’s intensity level is cranked up to the maximum at all times.
  2. In my section, and you can faintly hear it on the broadcast amidst the pandemonium — the shorthanded crowd began chanting “Joseeee Jose Jose Joseeee… JOSEEEEEE.”

Jose was an undrafted rookie in 2021, and ever since he stepped foot on the wood in the 504, the fanbase has been enamored with him.

Like in Round 1 against the Phoenix Suns, as a rookie, Jose went toe to toe with Chris Paul, the Point God, former face of the franchise in New Orleans, and absolutely rattled him while electrifying the blender.


Quintessential Jose.

And all I, and many like me, could think about is — it’s a shame we haven’t given this type of competitor more chances to shine in the playoffs; that’s the type of player who deserves to partake in April-June basketball.

On the last day of the trade deadline this year, the Knicks granted him that opportunity.

New York receives:

  • Jose Alvarado

New Orleans receives:

  • Dalen Terry
  • Two 2nd round picks (one being the 58th pick in this upcoming draft)
  • Cash considerations

One of the most beloved players in the organization, traded for crumbs…

Honestly, when I read the news, it was a crushing blow.

And then I remembered all the times, as a fan, I wanted more for some players and felt bad that they were anchored to what seemed like a rudderless organization…

Jose was definitely towards the top of that list.

However, after thinking about it for a second, if I really appreciated him as a player, I’d realize he was more than worthy of playoff basketball and returning to his home city.

I set my selfish desires aside and was prepared for the Garden to be enthralled by the hustle, grit, and captivating play of Jose Alvarado — like all of New Orleans was.

So, back to my two takeaways from the December brawl, which matter even more when you consider their correlation.

Jose Alvarado’s basketball spirit — being the first player off the bench during a timeout for encouragement, being the ultimate spark plug in playstyle with his incessant energy — aren’t just pleasant anecdotes of his fan favorite status…

The reason behind his adoration is also his basketball superpower.

The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” - Phil Jackson.

This is why basketball and team sports in general are so lovable.

Everyone has a part to play, and to play it excellently.

Broadcasters like to say “Player X really stars in their role.” But with Jose Alvarado, it’s almost like he lives for it.

Outside the captivating, high-stakes basketball, my favorite part of the Finals was watching Jose stay exactly who he’s always been and succeed by doing so.

It wasn’t a moment here and a moment there that made this evident.

Jose sustained tremendous success with the Knicks throughout their playoff run.

All the advanced data would emphatically concur.

Around 150 playoff minutes, the Knicks were more potent offensively with Jose on the floor, getting to the rim more frequently, shooting more corner threes, and spacing the floor more proficiently, which was backed as evidenced by their efficient jump shooting.

I’d argue that he was the most proficient in getting KAT involved, and they ran a special two-man game for a majority of the run — and it extended into possessions in the NBA Finals.

I’d venture to say that Knicks super genius Shax would agree that nobody did a better job of getting KAT his touches than Jose Alvarado.

While raising their offensive level, Jose, of course, did his thing and brought the juice on the other side of the ball — increasing New York’s defensive turnover rate by 2.0%.

That small 2% would’ve actually been good for top-5 in the league as a regular-season impact metric.

If you look at the matchup data via databallr.com, Jose guarded up and down the lineup with big-time assignments like De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and even phenoms Dylan Harper and Wemby.

Those were matchups most fans and analysts would consider him outclassed in, and obviously outsized — yet Jose won them.


I could go on about the nuances of why he’s so effective for his team and will always be an invaluable piece to the puzzle.

There’s nothing that simplified it more than this:

Jose Alvarado played almost the entirety of the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, logging 9 minutes and 40 seconds of the 4th quarter — if spectators didn’t understand why he was in the game during the duration of history being made… he certainly proved it.

He went 3/3 from the field in the fourth, on 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. He appeared big in the box score and still showed up with his standard little things.

Some of these plays are insignificant to the naked eye, but all of these moments — being around the ball, finding a box out, making the right decision on offense — aren’t guaranteed even for the best players in the world.

Jose doesn’t miss those opportunities, and that’s why he got to partake in these high-leverage situations and this specific monumental comeback.

Not everyone can go out on the floor and consistently win their minutes. Jose Alvarado has practically done it his whole career, and the context of who he is and how he’s carried it out has been almost irreplicable.

Champion DNA from the start of it all… in his time with Georgia Tech as an ACC champ, to the cherished moments in New Orleans, and now with the Knicks, earning the ring to back what’s in his blood.


The fact that a written-off, undersized, undrafted, gritty New York point guard was one of the key components that clicked the NBA champions into place—and did so without changing a single thing—is one of the coolest stories to come out of the most monumental Titles in NBA history.

I had no choice but to pay homage to Jose Alvarado, who always has a home and something of a family among the people of New Orleans, and who deserves the title “Champion” as much as anyone.


For all things Pelicans, be sure to follow me on Twitter @giddhoops!

A quick share helps us a lot!

This Facebook widget is no longer supported.
By Auston Taylor July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.
By Kaden Arkeder July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
Show More