Jose Alvarado thanks Knicks fan favorite for inbound steal play

The New York Knicks are set to take on the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of their first-round series in the NBA Playoffs on Saturday. Leading up to the contest, Jose Alvarado, who is known as a defensive demon in the backcourt, revealed where he learned how to steal inbound passes so effectively.

During a guest appearance on “7 pm in Brooklyn,” with Carmelo Anthony, the 28-year-old guard claimed that he learned how to defend inbound plays and gain steals from a former Knicks fan favorite, Pablo Prigioni. Alvarado explains how Prigioni told him to pretend to be tired, then dash at the ball as soon as the ball was inbounded.

“[Prigioni] told me, yo, act like you’re just tired or walking and just take off when they inbound it,” said Alvarado. “It’s not really the Grand Theft, but it’s something similar.”

Jose Alvarado says Pablo Prigioni helped him master the inbound steal (h/t @7PMinBrooklyn)

"Act like you're tired or walking and just take off when they inbound it…it's not really the Grand Theft but it's something similar." pic.twitter.com/l8Ajfyrtol

— CTRL the Narrative (@ctrlnarrative) April 17, 2026

That is pretty much what Jose Alvarado does if you watch some of his highlights. He will literally hang out by the sideline while the opposing team inbounds the ball, then rushes at the ball for an easy steal before they can even reach half-court.

That’s something Pablo Prigioni perfected in FIBA with Team Argentina, well before he ever made his NBA debut in 2012 as a 35-year-old rookie. Prigioni played four total seasons in the league, with the Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers.

We should see plenty of Alvarado’s antics throughout the playoffs. The Knicks acquired him via trade with the New Orleans Pelicans before the deadline this campaign. He’s played in 28 of his 69 total games this season with the Knicks, averaging 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 41.4% from the floor and 33.0% from deep.

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