Jose Alvarado and his role in helping the New York Knicks capture their first championship in 53 years has earned praise from across the basketball world, but perhaps no tribute was more meaningful than the one that came from his former high school coach.
Following New York’s NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Christ the King head coach Joe Arbitello took to Instagram to reflect on Alvarado’s remarkable journey from Queens prospect to NBA champion.
“I wasn’t thinking in this picture that Alvarado would one day win an NBA Championship. I was probably telling him to stop sneaking into the corner and get back on defense,” Arbitello wrote. “Proud is an understatement. This kid is a product of doing things the right way.”
Arbitello coached Alvarado at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, Queens, a program known for producing elite basketball talent. While the coach praised Alvarado’s development on the court, he was equally complimentary of the traits that defined him throughout his career.
One quality that stood out was loyalty.
Alvarado stayed committed to Christ the King throughout high school and played for just one AAU program during his youth career, according to Arbitello. That loyalty carried over into college, where he spent all four years at Georgia Tech before beginning his professional journey.
Arbitello also recalled Alvarado’s attitude whenever he wasn’t on the floor.
Rather than becoming frustrated by limited minutes, the future NBA champion remained engaged and supportive of his teammates.
Years later, that mindset has paid off.
After being acquired by the Knicks at the trade deadline, Alvarado quickly became an important part of New York’s rotation. His energy, defense and timely shooting helped provide valuable support behind Finals MVP Jalen Brunson throughout the postseason.
Several of his biggest moments came during New York’s comeback victories in Games Four and Five, where he knocked down key three-pointers and delivered quality minutes whenever called upon.
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