Note (September 2026): This profile has been updated because Jose Alvarado was traded from the Pelicans to the New York Knicks on February 5, 2026, won the 2026 NBA title and re-signed with New York. Earlier versions also misstated his career-high steals (6, not 7), his 2024-25 scoring high (27 points, not 26 against Phoenix) and his per-game averages.
Jose Alvarado is a 6-foot Puerto Rican-American point guard from Brooklyn who went undrafted in 2021, spent four and a half seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans and was traded to the New York Knicks in February 2026. He won the 2026 NBA championship with New York and, as of September 2026, is under a three-year Knicks contract worth more than $14 million.
Key Takeaways
- Current team: New York Knicks (No. 5), acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans on February 5, 2026.
- NBA champion: Alvarado won the 2026 title as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1, becoming the third Puerto Rican NBA champion.
- Contract: He declined a $4.5 million player option and re-signed with the Knicks for three years and more than $14 million (signed July 6, 2026).
- Career averages: 8.0 points, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game over 296 regular-season games through 2025-26.
- Puerto Rico: He was MVP of the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, sending Puerto Rico to its first Olympics in 20 years.
Introduction: Who is Jose Alvarado?
Jose Alvarado is not just another name in the NBA-he’s a rising force who has become a fan-favorite for his aggressive defense, clutch plays, and deep connection to Puerto Rico. As of September 2026, he plays for the New York Knicks, who acquired him from the New Orleans Pelicans in February 2026 and with whom he won the 2026 NBA championship, a remarkable result for a player who went undrafted in 2021. His journey is a compelling story of resilience, work ethic, and national pride.
In this in-depth article, we’ll cover everything from Jose Alvarado’s player profile, career milestones, stats, and contract details, to his impact on the Puerto Rican national basketball scene. Whether you’re a new fan or a long-time follower, this beginner-friendly guide will give you all the latest and most accurate insights.
Jose Alvarado Player Profile: Quick Overview
Jose Alvarado is known for his high-energy gameplay, lockdown defense, and leadership on and off the court. Despite being only 6 feet tall, he plays with heart much larger than his frame. He wore No. 15 for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2021 to February 2026; as of September 2026 he is a reserve guard for the New York Knicks, where he wears No. 5 and backs up Jalen Brunson.
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Full Name: Jose Alvarado.
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Team: New York Knicks (since February 2026; New Orleans Pelicans 2021-2026).
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Position: Point Guard
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Height: 6’0″
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Weight: 179 lbs
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Born: April 12, 1998, Brooklyn, New York.
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Nationality: American / Puerto Rican.
NBA Career Beginnings: From Undrafted to Unstoppable
After playing college basketball for Georgia Tech, Jose Alvarado entered the 2021 NBA Draft but went undrafted. Most players would call it quits—but not Jose. He signed a two-way contract with the Pelicans and immediately started proving his value.
His play with the Pelicans and their G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, earned him a standard contract on March 28, 2022, when his two-way deal was converted into a four-year, $6.5 million agreement. He quickly became known for his trademark “sneaky steals” where he’d hide in the corner and surprise unsuspecting ball handlers.
By 2022, Jose Alvarado had become a regular in the Pelicans’ rotation. His role only grew from there.
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Jose Alvarado Stats: Breaking Down the Numbers
2024-25 Regular-Season Averages (New Orleans Pelicans):
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Points per Game | 10.3 |
| Assists per Game | 4.6 |
| Rebounds per Game | 2.4 |
| Steals per Game | 1.3 |
| Field Goal % | 39.2% |
| 3PT % | 35.9% |
| Free Throw % | 81.1% |
His numbers reflect consistency and improvement, especially when it comes to distributing the ball and defensive efficiency. In the 2024–25 season, Alvarado became a crucial piece in the Pelicans’ backcourt.
Jose Alvarado 2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season showcased Jose Alvarado’s ability to step up in key moments. When the Pelicans faced injury issues mid-season, he took over starting duties and delivered big performances. His highest-scoring games of the 2024-25 season were two 27-point outings, against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 6, 2024 and the Los Angeles Lakers on April 4, 2025.
He finished the 2024-25 season averaging career bests of 10.3 points and 4.6 assists per game across 56 games (23 starts), more than doubling his assist average from the season before—proving he’s not just flashy but efficient.
Injury Update: Setbacks and Recovery
Jose Alvarado did face a minor setback in April 2025 with a right calf soreness, causing him to miss a few games. However, the injury was not serious. The Pelicans handled it game to game rather than announcing a long-term absence, and he was available at the start of the 2025-26 season. His quick recovery speaks to his conditioning and commitment to the team.
Jose Alvarado Contract, Salary & Net Worth
In September 2024, Alvarado signed a 2-year contract extension with the Pelicans worth $9 million. That contract included a $4.5 million player option for the 2026-27 season, which Alvarado declined in June 2026 before re-signing with the New York Knicks on a three-year deal worth more than $14 million, signed on July 6, 2026.
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Contract: 3 years / more than $14 million with the New York Knicks (signed July 2026); this replaced the 2 years / $9 million Pelicans extension of September 2024.
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Average Salary: roughly $4.7 million per year on the new Knicks deal, based on the reported total (the Pelicans extension averaged $4.5 million per year).
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Net Worth (2026 estimate): $4-6 million, an unverified estimate. Alvarado has not disclosed his net worth, and online figures are guesses based on his NBA salary before taxes, agent fees and living costs.
Details of any endorsement or merchandise income have not been publicly reported, so any figure beyond his NBA salary is speculative; his popularity with Puerto Rican fans, who see him as a national icon, is well documented.
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Jose Alvarado and Puerto Rico: A Source of National Pride
Jose Alvarado has always worn his Puerto Rican heritage with pride. In fact, he plays internationally for Puerto Rico and was a key figure in the team’s qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
In the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, he averaged:
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16.0 points
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3.8 rebounds
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3.0 assists
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2.3 steals
His hustle and leadership earned him the MVP title of the tournament. Many see him as the face of Puerto Rico basketball for the next generation.
Jose Alvarado Highlights: Must-Watch Moments
From his viral “sneaky steal” plays to clutch three-pointers in the dying minutes, Jose Alvarado has a growing library of highlight-worthy moments. Some of his most talked-about clips include:
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Stealing the ball while hiding in the backcourt.
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Scoring a career-high 38 points off the bench against the Denver Nuggets on December 4, 2022 (an earlier version of this list cited an overtime buzzer-beater against the Mavericks, which could not be verified).
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Recording 6 steals in a single game, his NBA career high, against the Houston Rockets on March 13, 2022.
These moments not only showcase his skills but also his basketball IQ.
Media Attention and News Coverage
Jose Alvarado has become a regular feature in sports headlines. Whether it’s ESPN, Bleacher Report, or NBA Twitter, he gets attention for all the right reasons—his work ethic, team-first attitude, and highlight-reel plays.
An earlier version of this article attributed the following remark to Willie Green, the Pelicans’ head coach until November 2025; no published source for the quote could be found, so treat it as unverified:
“Jose is the kind of player every team needs—fearless, smart, and willing to do the dirty work.”
He’s also very active on social media, where he shares behind-the-scenes looks into his training, game prep, and family life.
Jose Alvarado’s Playing Style: Why Fans Love Him
Jose Alvarado plays with grit. He’s known for:
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Relentless defense.
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Quick hands and fast transitions.
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Ability to read the court.
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Never-give-up attitude.
He’s not your average flashy scorer, but a player who builds momentum for his team. Coaches love him. Teammates trust him. Fans adore him.
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Conclusion: What’s Next for Jose Alvarado?
As of September 2026, Jose Alvarado is one of the most exciting underdog stories in the NBA. From undrafted rookie to Olympic qualifying tournament MVP, part-time Pelicans starter and 2026 NBA champion with his hometown New York Knicks, his rise has been nothing short of inspiring. With years still ahead of him, Alvarado is poised to take on even bigger roles—possibly even becoming an All-Defensive Team candidate in the near future.
Whether you follow the New York Knicks, remember his New Orleans Pelicans years or just love good basketball stories, Jose Alvarado is someone to watch in the NBA and on the world stage.
Where Does Jose Alvarado Play Now?
Jose Alvarado plays for the New York Knicks. The Pelicans traded him to New York on February 5, 2026, for guard Dalen Terry, two future second-round picks and cash, according to reports at the time by NBA.com and FOX 8 New Orleans. New Orleans waived Terry the next day.
The trade brought Alvarado home: he was born in Brooklyn and grew up in New York City. At the time of the deal he was averaging 7.9 points, 3.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 41 games for New Orleans. With the Knicks he became the main backup to Jalen Brunson, averaging 6.6 points and 3.8 assists in 28 regular-season games.
His most memorable regular-season game in New York came on February 11, 2026, at Philadelphia: 26 points in 19 minutes off the bench, 8-of-13 from three and 5 steals in a 138-89 win. According to Wikipedia’s summary of team records, he was the first Knicks player to post at least 25 points, 5 steals and 5 made threes off the bench in one game.
How Did Jose Alvarado Help the Knicks Win the NBA Title?
Jose Alvarado won the 2026 NBA championship when the New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals, which ran from June 3 to June 13, 2026. The Knicks clinched with a 94-90 win in Game 5, ending a title drought that dated back to 1973. Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP.
Alvarado’s signature moment came in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. New York trailed by 29 points, and Alvarado scored eight points with three assists in the fourth quarter as the Knicks completed a 107-106 comeback, the largest in NBA Finals history, according to NBA.com. Over the five-game series he averaged 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists, according to El Nuevo Día.
The title made Alvarado the third Puerto Rican to win an NBA championship, after Butch Lee (1980 Los Angeles Lakers) and J.J. Barea (2011 Dallas Mavericks). He waved the Puerto Rican flag during the trophy celebration and later joined the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York.
Jose Alvarado Contract History
Jose Alvarado’s NBA contracts have grown from a two-way deal to a multi-year standard contract. Figures below are the totals reported by NBA.com, ESPN and Hoops Rumors as of September 2026.
| Date | Team | Deal |
|---|---|---|
| August 19, 2021 | New Orleans Pelicans | Two-way contract (with G League Birmingham Squadron) |
| March 28, 2022 | New Orleans Pelicans | Converted to a four-year, $6.5 million standard contract |
| September 28, 2024 | New Orleans Pelicans | Two-year, $9 million extension with a 2026-27 player option |
| February 5, 2026 | New York Knicks | Traded to New York |
| July 6, 2026 | New York Knicks | Declined $4.5 million option; signed three years, more than $14 million |
For context on how role-player salaries compare with the league’s top earners, see the list of the richest NBA players in the world.
Jose Alvarado Career Stats by Season
Jose Alvarado has averaged 8.0 points, 3.2 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game over 296 regular-season games (2021-22 to 2025-26). The table below uses regular-season per-game figures from NBA and Basketball-Reference data as summarized on Wikipedia, current as of September 2026.
| Season | Team | Games | Points | Assists | Rebounds | Steals | 3PT % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Pelicans | 54 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 29.1% |
| 2022-23 | Pelicans | 61 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 33.6% |
| 2023-24 | Pelicans | 56 | 7.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 37.7% |
| 2024-25 | Pelicans | 56 | 10.3 | 4.6 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 35.9% |
| 2025-26 | Pelicans | 41 | 7.9 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 36.3% |
| 2025-26 | Knicks | 28 | 6.6 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 33.0% |
| Career | – | 296 | 8.0 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 34.9% |
In the playoffs, Alvarado has appeared in 28 games across 2022, 2024 and 2026, including 18 games during the Knicks’ 2026 championship run, where he averaged 4.2 points in about 9 minutes per game.
Jose Alvarado Career Highs and Records
- Points: 38 off the bench against the Denver Nuggets on December 4, 2022, which NBA.com describes as the most points off the bench by an undrafted player in NBA history.
- Steals: 6 against the Houston Rockets on March 13, 2022.
- Rising Stars: MVP of the NBA Rising Stars Challenge on February 17, 2023.
- Nickname: “Grand Theft Alvarado,” earned for his steals, especially his trademark play of hiding out of the ball handler’s view and darting in for a steal.
At 6 feet, Alvarado is one of the smaller guards in the league; see how he compares with the shortest players in NBA history.
Jose Alvarado and Puerto Rico at the Paris Olympics
Jose Alvarado led Puerto Rico to the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan in July 2024, where FIBA named him tournament MVP. He scored 29 points in a group-stage win over Italy and 23 points in the final against Lithuania, ending Puerto Rico’s 20-year Olympic absence.
At the Olympics, Puerto Rico went 0-3 in Group C and did not advance. The team lost 90-79 to South Sudan, with Alvarado scoring 26 points, then fell 107-66 to Serbia and 104-83 to the United States, according to FIBA and ESPN results.
Before the NBA: Brooklyn Roots and Georgia Tech
Jose Alvarado was born on April 12, 1998, in Brooklyn to a Puerto Rican father and a mother of Mexican descent. He starred at Christ the King Regional High School in Queens before playing four seasons at Georgia Tech (2017-2021).
As a senior in 2020-21, Alvarado averaged 15.2 points and 2.8 steals per game, was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and helped Georgia Tech win its first ACC tournament title since 1993. According to his NBA.com biography, he also holds the Georgia Tech record for steals in a game, with nine.
Discipline: Jose Alvarado2019s Two-Game Suspension
The NBA suspended Jose Alvarado for two games without pay after an on-court fight with Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams on December 27, 2025, in New Orleans, according to NBA Communications. Williams received a one-game suspension. Alvarado served his games on December 29 and December 31, 2025.
Jose Alvarado Height, Weight and Net Worth: What Is Verified
The NBA lists Jose Alvarado at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and 179 pounds (81 kg). His net worth has never been disclosed; the $4-6 million range often quoted online is an unverified estimate. His reported NBA contracts are the only verified income figures.
Fans of other guards who changed the game can read about Luka Dončić’s rise to NBA glory, and Knicks fans can explore the Pacers vs Knicks head-to-head history.
FAQs About Jose Alvarado
What team does Jose Alvarado play for?
As of September 2026, he plays for the New York Knicks, who acquired him from the New Orleans Pelicans on February 5, 2026.
Is Jose Alvarado part of the Puerto Rico national team?
Yes, he represents Puerto Rico and helped them qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
What position does he play?
He is a point guard.
What were Jose Alvarado’s stats in his best Pelicans season?
In 2024-25 he averaged career bests of 10.3 points and 4.6 assists, plus 1.3 steals per game, for the Pelicans. In 2025-26 he averaged 7.9 points in 41 games for New Orleans and 6.6 points in 28 games for the Knicks.
Has he faced any injuries recently?
He missed several games with right calf soreness in April 2025 but was available for 2025-26, when he played 69 regular-season games and 18 playoff games in the Knicks’ title run. He also served a two-game NBA suspension in December 2025 for an on-court fight.
What is his contract value?
He signed a 2-year, $9 million extension with the Pelicans in 2024, then declined its $4.5 million 2026-27 player option and signed a three-year Knicks contract worth more than $14 million in July 2026.
What makes his playing style unique?
His defensive instincts and ability to create turnovers make him stand out.
Where is Jose Alvarado originally from?
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, but proudly represents Puerto Rico in international basketball.
Is Jose Alvarado an NBA champion?
Yes. Jose Alvarado won the 2026 NBA championship with the New York Knicks, who beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals in June 2026. He became the third Puerto Rican to win an NBA title.
Why did the Pelicans trade Jose Alvarado?
The Pelicans traded Jose Alvarado to the Knicks at the February 2026 deadline for Dalen Terry, two future second-round picks and cash. New York wanted a defensive guard while Miles McBride was out after surgery, according to contemporary reports.
Was Jose Alvarado drafted?
No. Jose Alvarado went undrafted in 2021 after four seasons at Georgia Tech and signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans in August 2021.
What number does Jose Alvarado wear?
Jose Alvarado wears No. 5 for the New York Knicks. He wore No. 15 with the New Orleans Pelicans, a number the Knicks have retired for Earl Monroe.
What is Jose Alvarado’s nickname?
Jose Alvarado is nicknamed “Grand Theft Alvarado” because of his steals, particularly his signature sneak-up steals on unsuspecting ball handlers.
A note on the figures: net worth for a public figure is an estimate, assembled from reported earnings, visible assets and a good deal of inference. It is not an audited financial disclosure, published sources routinely disagree, and the number changes over time. Treat it as an indication of scale rather than an exact amount.
