Tag: jose alvarado

Kenny Smith hilariously got the ‘Grand Theft Alvarado’ treatment on TNT

Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado hilariously stole the ball away from Kenny Smith on TNT’s halftime show.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado made a surprise appearance Monday on TNT’s halftime show and hilariously gave Kenny Smith the “Grand Theft Alvarado” treatment in the process.

With Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks at halftime, Smith led their analysis from the gigantic video board on set. In typical fashion, Smith raced over from his chair but decided to dribble a ball on his way over.

Alvarado then raced in from behind the scenes and swiped the ball away from Smith. The sequence was very similar to what the undrafted rookie did throughout the season when he would hide in a corner and force steals from the backcourt.

Alvarado proved to be quite the thief this season, totaling 71 steals in 54 games. He finished fourth in total steals among all first-year players in just 834 total minutes. In comparison, teammate Herb Jones, who led the class with 130 steals, logged 2,335 minutes.

He became a bit of a household name during the postseason after giving Chris Paul fits throughout their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns. He earned plenty of praise from fans given his infectious playing style on both ends of the court.

Certainly, the rise of Alvarado from undrafted to stealing the show at halftime in the playoffs on TNT was remarkable to see. Fortunately, the fans had at least one more opportunity to see him on Monday.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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‘He changed my life’: Jose Alvarado reflects on playing for Willie Green

Alvarado emerged as a key player this season with the Pelicans, and credited head coach Willie Green for much of his success.

Jose Alvarado emerged as a key player this season with the New Orleans Pelicans, and the undrafted guard credited head coach Willie Green for much of his success.

The Pelicans were eliminated from the playoffs on Thursday by the Phoenix Suns. The loss, though tough, capped off an incredible season for the group after starting 1-12. They earned the eighth seed in the play-in tournament and pushed the top-seeded Suns to six games.

Alvarado played an integral role in helping the Pelicans make some noise in the second half of the season and in the playoffs. He even became a favorite in New Orleans because of his infectious playing style bringing immense energy and effort on a nightly basis.

The former Georgia Tech standout averaged eight points, 1.5 assists, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals off the bench for the Pelicans in the playoffs. He became a menace on defense and often gave Chris Paul fits throughout the series.

Alvarado praised Green for his opportunity this season.

He is my Coach of the Year. That guy made me a better person, a better man and a better player. What he did with us, just keeping us in that right mindset the whole year even when it got rough, and everyone doubted us, he was the one that had our back the whole time. I couldn’t thank him enough. He changed my life so I’m glad I get to call him my coach for the next four years.

Alvarado played sparingly to begin the season and was even in the NBA G League for a stint. He eventually entered the rotation on Jan. 1 and didn’t look back, averaging 6.9 points, 3.1 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals the rest of the season.

Remarkably, Alvarado finished fourth in total steals among all rookies despite only logging 834 minutes; the three players above him each played more than 2,000 minutes. Certainly, Alvarado showed out when he was given the green light to play.

With the emergence of Alvarado, the Pelicans appear to be set up well for the future. They extensively relied on two other rookies, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III, and each looked to be franchise cornerstones. When added next to their nucleus, they could be a perennial playoff team.

Alvarado is among the players just getting started.

“It is just the beginning and I can’t wait to go back and learn,” Alvarado said. “It is going to be an important summer. I’m definitely going to get stronger, better and shoot better. I can’t wait.”

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Chris Paul issued flagrant foul for kick to groin on Jose Alvarado

Paul on Thursday was issued a flagrant foul by the NBA for contact made to Pelicans rookie Jose Alvarado in Game 5.

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul on Thursday was issued a flagrant foul by the NBA for contact made to New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jose Alvarado in Game 5 on Wednesday.

The replay of the incident showed that Paul appeared to kick Alvarado in the groin area midway through the second quarter. Alvarado immediately went down in pain but there was no call issued on the floor and the game continued on without further stoppage.

After a review, which happens following each game in the regular season or playoffs, the NBA deemed the contact warranted a flagrant one foul. The league classifies flagrant one fouls as unnecessary contact made to any player, with or without the ball.

The Suns defeated the Pelicans in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 on Thursday in New Orleans. The matchup has proven to be a physical battle for each team as the Pelicans will be looking to extend their season one more game.

Game 6 will tip off at 7:30 p.m. EDT on TNT.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Jose Alvarado forced another 8-second violation on Chris Paul and Twitter loved it

Alvarado has frustrated the Suns throughout their first-round series, and forced another eight-second violation on Chris Paul.

New Orleans Pelicans rookie Jose Alvarado has frustrated the Phoenix Suns throughout their first-round series, and the undrafted guard has earned plenty of recognition on a national stage.

Specifically, Alvarado has been a pest on Chris Paul.

The former Georgia Tech standout is only averaging 6.3 points, 1.3 assists and one rebound in the series. However, it is his defense and energy off of the bench that has bothered the Suns and has given Paul problems in each game of the series.

Alvarado pulled off his “Grand Theft Alvarado” trick on him after sneaking up from behind and poking the ball loose in Game 4. He also forced an eight-second violation on Paul that proved vital in pulling out the win in that game. He did it once again in Game 5 to much fanfare.

Unfortunately, the Pelicans came up short on Tuesday and will face an elimination game in Game 6 on Thursday back in New Orleans. The Pelicans will need a total team effort and Alvarado will be among those that will need to have another strong outing to help force a Game 7.

Alvarado became a fan favorite throughout the season in New Orleans given his performance on a nightly basis. It is precisely that reason that he has seemingly become a villain among Suns fans and why he was booed each time he touched the ball Tuesday in Phoenix.

Outside of Phoenix, though, Alvarado has become a great storyline and had social media buzzing with his latest effort on Paul and the Suns, despite the loss.

Did Chris Paul get away with a deliberate kick to Jose Alvarado’s groin in Game 5?

Hmm.

Throughout the hard-fought series between the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans, there’s been one constant: Jose Alvarado has hounded Chris Paul.

That’s right, the Pelicans guard known for hiding on in-bounds plays and then swiping the ball from unsuspecting opponents has been a thorn in CP3’s side, pulling off that trick in Game 4 (see below) and hounding the future Hall of Famer into not one but two eight-second violations.

Did Paul get away with revenge on Tuesday night during the Suns’ win?

The Athletic’s John Hollinger seemed to think it was deliberate on a shot Paul took, when the guard kicked his leg out and nailed Alvarado in the groin:

Will the NBA agree? Maybe it was an accident? We’ll see.

In the meantime, here are the eight-second violations:

And the sneaky steal:

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Jamie Foxx received Jose Alvarado’s jersey after Pelicans’ Game 4 win

Foxx was among those on hand Sunday to watch the Pelicans defeat the Suns, and the actor even walked away with a gift afterward.

Jamie Foxx was among those on hand Sunday to watch the New Orleans Pelicans defeat the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series, and the Academy Award winner even walked away with a gift afterward.

Brandon Ingram produced a game-high 30 points while Jonas Valanciunas had 26 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Pelicans to the 118-103 victory. With the win, the Pelicans tied up the series at two games apiece as the two teams head back to Phoenix for Game 5 on Tuesday.

Foxx caught up with the Pelicans in the locker room after the contest to congratulate them on their win. He was seen talking with Jose Alvarado and the actor was even gifted his jersey. The two have a previous connection to Atlanta when Alvarado played in college at Georgia Tech.

He gave a nice message to Alvarado, who had five points and two steals.

Alvarado burst onto the scene in the middle of the season with the Pelicans after going undrafted last year. He has impressed with his infectious energy and effort off the bench and has quickly become a fan favorite in New Orleans.

Foxx is among those impressed with Alvarado.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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CJ McCollum: Pelicans’ rookies have shown ‘tremendous growth’

Led by Herb Jones, the Pelicans’ trio of rookies helped the team knock off the Suns and even their first-round series.

On Tuesday, the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans tied up their first-round series versus the No. 1 seed Phoenix Suns thanks in large part to the efforts of Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum.

Combined, they scored 60 points to lead the Pelicans to the 125-114 win.

Ingram had a game-high 37 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to finish just shy of his first career triple-double. McCollum added 23 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Larry Nance Jr. chipped in 13 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Of course, there was also the rookies’ production.

The team has relied on three first-year players this season, and each has come up with big-time plays and contributions to help the Pelicans reach this point of the postseason: A tied-up series versus the top seed going back to New Orleans for Game 3.

Herb Jones led the way with 14 points, three assists and one steal. Trey Murphy III had nine points and three steals off the bench while Jose Alvarado scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter to help keep the Pelicans ahead.

McCollum admired their commitment and growth this season.

They’ve just showed tremendous growth, not just from the two play-in games and the six games we used to close the season out but from when they were 1-12. That takes a courageous group led by a courageous coach who did what it took to get the best out of his players and then they went and put the work in so we could have success.

With Jose knocking down shots, with Herb locking up (on defense) and making his free throws, with Trey knocking down shots. We had a lot of guys who were in the G League finishing this game.

The three players have often been commended by their veteran teammates for the poise they display, and their ability to compete on a nightly basis. They have rarely been afraid of the moment and that has shown on the game’s biggest stage as of late.

There is no question the Pelicans are led by Ingram and McCollum, but the contributions of their rookies, and the rest of the roster, are a huge reason why they are currently tied up with the Suns.

Game 3 is scheduled to tip off on Friday at 9:30 p.m. EDT on ESPN.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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‘That guy ain’t no rookie’: Pelicans react to Herb Jones’ play-in performance

With New Orleans’ season on the line, Jones produced one of his finest performances to help the Pelicans defeat the Spurs.

With New Orleans’ season on the line, rookie Herb Jones produced one of his finest performances to help the Pelicans defeat the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday in the play-in tournament.

Jones scored 12 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots in the 113-103 victory at Smoothie King Center. He went an efficient 5-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, in 37 minutes of work.

Perhaps his best contribution was once again his defensive effort.

Dejounte Murray, the Spurs’ leading scorer this season, recorded 16 points in the loss but Jones and the Pelicans held him to 5-of-19 shooting from the field. Jones held Murray to 3-of-9 shooting and forced two turnovers as his primary defender, according to NBA tracking data.

Pelicans head coach Willie Green saw Jones rise to the occasion.

Herb was locked in. I could tell from the time we had our first meeting prepping for this team. I looked into his eyes and he just was ready. He was watching and studying. He is in the gym, doing two-a-days. He is doing everything he can to be prepared. He knew that was going to be a challenging matchup (against Murray) and he met it head-first. I’m proud of that kid. He works his tail off.

Said Jones:

I didn’t do anything outside of my normal routine. I took the same approach that I took for any game. I wouldn’t say it was a higher level. I try to stay as locked in as I can each night.

The defensive effort versus the Spurs further demonstrated how dominant Jones has been on that end of the floor this season. It was also a prime example of how the 35th pick is in the discussion for an All-Defensive team placement.

Jones averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 78 games this season. His 130 total steals ranked third among all players in the NBA while his 243 total deflections were fourth. He was the only player to have at least 120 steals and 50 blocks.

“He is a hell of a player,” said rookie Jose Alvarado, who finished with 12 points and three assists. “That guy ain’t no rookie. He should be first team (All-Defense). He definitely has my vote. He ain’t no rookie. He is a hell of a player all around.”

With the win, the No. 9 seed Pelicans (36-46) will advance to play the No. 7 seed Clippers (42-40) Friday in Los Angeles. The winner will secure the eighth seed in the Western Conference and the right to face the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 10 p.m. EDT on TNT.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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2021 NBA draft class: Final rookie stat leaders for the 2021-22 season

Rookie Wire took a look back at which first-year players were among the leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists and more.

With the 2021-22 regular season wrapped up, observers of the NBA can now take a look back at the year that was and evaluate how each player performed, including the rookie class.

The group played at a high level throughout the season with several individuals emerging as potential future All-Stars. As a result, the Rookie of the Year voting is expected to be highly competitive with as many as five players in the running to win.

Rookie Wire took a look back at how the class performed and which players were among the leaders in key statistical categories, including scoring, rebounding and assists.

Note: Stat leaders are according to NBA.com.

Jose Alvarado keeps tricking teams on defense and it is hilarious

The latest act by Alvarado involves some elite trickery to catch opposing teams off guard.

Jose Alvarado emerged as a key player for the New Orleans Pelicans this season and has impressed in a variety of ways during various stretches on the court.

His latest act involves some stealth thievery and it is awesome.

Alvarado recently started tricking defenses by hiding in different corners of the court during inbounds plays. The move has worked several times as the former Georgia Tech standout has forced steals and other turnovers in the backcourt.

The latest victim was Kris Dunn and the Portland Trail Blazers.

Devonte’ Graham scored a layup to put the Pelicans up by nine points in the first quarter. As the rest of the Pelicans were getting back on defense, Alvarado proceeded to hide in the corner until the Trail Blazers took the ball out.

From there, he exploded out of nowhere to catch Dunn off guard.

Alvarado finished with six points as the Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers, but also added four steals, three rebounds and three assists off the bench. Shockingly, Alvarado got each steal by running up on a different Trail Blazers player.

The art of getting the backcourt steal has been seemingly perfected by Alvarado. It has gotten to the point now that teams have got to include that move on the scouting report.

“Let’s hope that teams don’t scout that and he can continue to get one or two steals,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said. “I think they will. I think teams are going to see it and talk about it. It’s hard to go against. You don’t even know he is coming. He is over there in the corner hiding but he has gotten away with it so it works.”

Here are some other examples, courtesy of Rob Perez on Twitter.

Alvarado, who has logged 736 minutes this season, is fifth among all first-year players in steals with 63. In comparison, teammate Herb Jones, who leads the rookie class with 122 steals, has logged 2,191 minutes this season with New Orleans.

He now leads the NBA with 19 backcourt steals.

Alvarado impressed the Pelicans since entering the rotation, often earning praise for his energy and effort. He is often the first in the gym and the last to leave after practice, something that has really resonated with his teammates this season.

He is averaging 7.2 points, 3.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 39 games since entering the rotation on Jan. 3. He recorded a career-high 23 points off of the bench on Saturday in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, which was his 10th game in double figures.

Alvarado has put in an immense amount of work to stay ready for his newfound opportunity and he will only continue to get better the more he plays.

Hopefully, teams don’t catch on to his backcourt shenanigans.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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