Jose Alvarados energy skill giving Knicks…
There’s an intangible half of Jose Alvarado’s sport that could possibly be essential for the Knicks.
Plenty of what he brings could be measured and was needed when the Knicks acquired him just forward of the commerce deadline: on-ball protection and the power to drive turnovers; orchestrating the offense as a ball handler; velocity to get them going in transition.
Perhaps just as — or even more — important are traits that can’t be measured.
His energy.
His persona.
His skill to elevate up teammates.
“Absolutely, it helps the team no matter what,” Jalen Brunson said after observe Thursday. “You kind of wish he was on the court because he’s a little bit quieter than on the bench. He does so much for this team on and off the court. It’s constant energy. Kind of regardless of how he’s playing, he always has the energy. That’s a skill, that’s a skill that makes someone last in the league a long time. It’s great to have him.”
Jason Szenes reacts during the Knicks’ blowout win over the Spurs on March 1, 2026. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Brunson, who was out for the Knicks’ win over the Pacers on Tuesday, bought an up-close look at it, sitting next to Alvarado on the bench and seeing how vocal he was.
“Just be myself at all times, no matter what. But JB don’t shut up, neither,” Alvarado joked, “so I don’t know why he said that.”
Alvarado’s mindset around that side of himself has modified.
Now, he believes he wouldn’t be where he’s without it.
You don’t normally hear somebody’s energy be described as a “skill” that somebody masters, but that’s what Brunson labeled it for Alvarado.
“I didn’t think that growing up, but as I got closer, into college and going into my NBA career, it’s definitely — it keeps me in the NBA,” Alvarado said. “That’s one of the reasons I got to the NBA, and it separates me from being just in the NBA, if that makes sense. I just figured out that’s what God blessed me with, and I’ve just got to do it at a high level.”
Jose Alvarado appears to make a play during the Knicks’ blowout win over the Pacers on March 17, 2026. Imagn Images
Importantly, Alvarado’s energy has stayed constant through some ups and downs early in his Knicks tenure.
He bought off to a strong start, significantly with a 26-point eruption during a rout of the 76ers proper before the All-Star break.
It’s straightforward to be a great teammate and energetic and vocal when you’re taking part in effectively, though.
Then Alvarado struggled when the calendar flipped to March.
He went the first 9 video games of the month without hitting a 3-pointer, lacking all 11 he took.
There have been moments when coach Mike Brown turned to Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson in place of Alvarado, looking for an offensive spark.
Alvarado even told The Post that “I f–king suck” during that stretch.
Regardless, though, Alvarado didn’t let it have an effect on that energy.
He was the same when he was struggling as he was when he bounced back with 16 factors and two steals in a blowout win over the Pacers on Tuesday.
It’s added an factor to the Knicks they didn’t actually have.
They don’t have many rah-rah, high-energy personalities outdoors of Josh Hart.
“Jose has been fantastic for us,” Brown said. “The time that he’s been here, he’s given us a lift energy-wise. And he’s a veteran. He knows the league, the league knows him. And he has a respect level for what he’s accomplished already that’s helped us tremendously.”
If energy really is a skill, it’s one Alvarado has perfected.
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