Jose Alvarado grew up playing the game in Brooklyn and played at Christ the King HS in Queens.
So when he heard the roar from the Madison Square Garden crowd when he checked out late in the first quarter in his first home game as a Knick, it hit him.
“It’s different,” Alvarado said. “Playing for the Knicks is a big thing, but I’m basically a kid from the same streets as the fans, and to be a part of it all here, it’s a blessing. It’s something I had to get used to and to get it out of the way, get the ball rolling.”
As for the reaction itself, Alvarado said: “It was amazing.
Of course, the result was not fair, as the Knicks suffered their worst loss of the season, a 137-134 overtime loss against the poor Pacers. And Alvarado finished with just four points in 18:13, though he had five assists.
It’s not the result we wanted, but I’ll tell you this, it was a blessing to be out,” said Alvarado.
He had a large section of followers in hand. When asked about the number of people in his group, Alvarado said, “It’s a lot.”
“I was nervous today, really,” said the security guard. “There was a lot going on. I’m glad I got it out of the way. I can’t wait to come back and get better and win more games here.”
And while the former Christ the King star had some good moments, he was far from his best, as the Knicks couldn’t pull away.
After leading the Knicks to a convincing win in Boston on Sunday, Alvarado didn’t go in until 2:05 remained in the first quarter.
Coming out of the Knicks’ timeout, Alvarado came in and rumbled with the team trailing by one point.
It didn’t take long for Alvarado to make an impact, first saving Jalen Brunson on a turnover and then assisting on Brunson’s 3-pointer later in the game. He also dove into the sticks to save some property.
But in the end there were too many mistakes by Alvarado and his teammates.
Still, there will undoubtedly be better times in his hometown of Alvarado.
“It was always good for him to come home,” said Joe Arbitello, coach of Alvarado High School in Christ the King before the game of his former player’s days with the New Orleans Pelicans. “For it to happen as the Knick brings it to another level.”
Arbitello was among those in the crowd supporting Alvarado and it’s a situation the coach believes Alvarado will thrive in, even if that wasn’t the case Tuesday.
“I think he’s going to be good here, like he always is,” Arbitello said.
But unlike other players who might play with extra energy in front of a home crowd, Arbitello said it might be different for the New York native.
“He’ll be the same player he’s been,” said Arbitello.
So the light of the garden will not change his former star?
“It doesn’t matter where he is,” Arbitello said. He’s going to be the same guy and play as hard as he can.”
That’s why Arbitello is among the people who believe he’ll be successful as a Knick and gain fame from the Garden faithful.
“If he plays like he did in New Orleans or wherever he’s been now and he does it here, I think he’s going to be a fan favorite,” Arbitello said. “He brings what New York fans love: gritty, hard-nosed, winning basketball. We’ve seen it for years and for him to come here it’s going to be electric.”
