Knicks’ Jose Alvarado drops ‘mixed emotions’ to Victor Wembanyama not shaking hands after NBA Finals

New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado revealed his mixed emotions over San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama not shaking anyone’s hands after losing the NBA Finals. Alvarado is a New York native who was traded to the Knicks mid-season by the New Orleans Pelicans. Now, he’s a fan favorite.

Alvarado delivered his take on Wembanyama not shaking the Knicks’ players’ hands, per The Breakfast Club.

“I got mixed emotions. I’m a competitor, too. I stare my enemies down,” Alvarado said. “I shake their hand. It’s a game. You don’t like the moment. You lost probably the biggest game of your career. But you’re going to have more moments. I feel like the way he did it was a little too crazy for me [because] I loved how he competes during the game.”

“I got mixed emotions… I feel like the way he did it was a little too crazy for me [because] I loved how he compete during the game.”

Jose Alvarado reacts to Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs not shaking hands after the series

(via @breakfastclubam)pic.twitter.com/ia4SnHyL1s

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 20, 2026

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama caught a lot of flak for not shaking any one of the Knicks players’ hands, especially after watching All-Star Jalen Brunson make a beeline toward head coach Mitch Johnson before embracing his own father, Rick Brunson, who’s an assistant coach for the Knicks.

Jose Alvarado’s high school coach reacts to Knicks title

When the Knicks were on the verge of winning a championship, Knicks guard Jose Alvarado’s high school coach showed his support for his former player. Alvarado, who grew up in the New York area, attended Christ the King High School, where coach Joe Arbitello coached a young Jose, he said, per SNY Knicks.

“It’s hard to be a fan. My stomach is in knots,” Arbitello said. “I can’t take the emotional roller coaster…I’m living and dying on every play for this kid. And then sometimes I just sit back and think to myself, ‘He’s playing in the NBA. If the worst possible thing that happens to him is that he loses, people would pay for that, that kind of success that he’s had.’”

"It's just such a special moment for him and it's a special moment for me and it's a special moment for everybody that loves that kid."

Jose Alvarado's high school coach at Christ the King, @ctkcoachjarbs, joins @emacSNY on SportsNite:

@Honda pic.twitter.com/kAFlvd9scI

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 12, 2026

Alvarado will begin his first full season with the Knicks in 2026-27.

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