Knicks’ Jose Alvarado gives Pelicans quick jab after clinching NBA Finals berth

The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals. Reserve guard Jose Alvarado made sure to enjoy every second of the moment with a playful jab at his former team. Following New York’s dominant 130-93 closeout victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, Alvarado was asked whether he imagined himself playing basketball this deep into June when he began the season with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Brooklyn native smirked before delivering a brutally honest one-word answer.

“Nope,” he said.

The exchange perfectly captured the remarkable turnaround in Alvarado’s season after New York acquired him from New Orleans at the February trade deadline. That was in exchange for Dalen Terry and future second-round draft compensation.

Jose Alvarado on whether he thought he'd be playing in June when he started the season with the Pelicans:

"Nope." pic.twitter.com/ssNNElFlmO

— ESPN (@espn) May 26, 2026

What initially looked like a routine depth move quickly became one of the Knicks’ smartest midseason additions. Alvarado’s relentless ball pressure, defensive intensity, and high-energy mentality immediately fit the hard-nosed culture head coach Mike Brown built in Manhattan.

Even with a shortened playoff rotation, Alvarado still delivered meaningful minutes in the Game 4 clincher. He finished with four points, two assists, two steals, and a remarkable +21 plus-minus in only 10 minutes of action. His fearless defensive approach completely disrupted Cleveland’s second unit. It also further energized a Knicks roster currently riding a franchise-record 11-game postseason winning streak.

During the 2025-26 campaign, New York surged to a 53-29 regular-season record. They captured the NBA Cup and then transformed into the hottest team in basketball once the playoffs arrived. Now, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are leading the charge toward the franchise’s first title since 1973. With that, Alvarado’s “Nope” jab at the Pelicans has become an intriguing footnote to New York’s dream run.

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