New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado may not have entered the Olympic Qualifying Tournament as a headliner but he’ll leave it as one. Playing for Puerto Rico’s senior national team, Alvarado scored a team-high 23 points and was tied for the team lead in rebounds (6) and steals (2) in the final round of the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers.
Jose Alvarado scores 23 points to lead Puerto Rico to secure their ticket to Paris and earn @TCL_Brand Player of the Game! #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/xZjTpFPVks
— FIBA (@FIBA) July 8, 2024
Facing an experienced Lithuanian team led by Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis, underdog Puerto Rico pulled out an 11-point victory.
Pelicans’ Jose Alvarado Plays Olympic Hero for Puerto Rico
Alvarado wasn’t alone, with former NBA guard Tremont Waters adding 18 points and two steals. Davon Reed, who has an ‘on-again off-again’ relationship with the NBA, notched a pair of steals himself. Nonetheless, ‘GTA’ was the driving force behind Puerto Rico’s success in the back half of the tournament. Indeed, before he lit up Lithuania, Alvarado sliced up Italy’s defense. In fact, he was even better that game, tallying 29 points and three steals while shooting 7-10 from 3.
29 PTS 🇵🇷 10/15 FG 🇵🇷 27 MIN
Jose Alvarado CAUGHT FIRE for Puerto Rico! He scored a game-high to lead his team to victory over Italy in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. #FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/T0W6BetPdC
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 5, 2024
Due to those performances, Alvarado was named the MVP of the San Juan Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Jose Alvarado chosen as the San Juan OQT MVP. He invited all his teammates to dance with him while the fans sing “Jose Jose Jose” pic.twitter.com/7OxywiPatm
— Pelicans Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) July 8, 2024
After the OQT Finals, Alvarado praised his team’s poise and confidence.
“I think this group is special, I’ve said it from the beginning,” Alvarado says, per FIBA Basketball. “The one thing about this group is that we aren’t scared of anybody. We know we can beat anybody on any given night. Yes, we know that they’re probably more talented, bigger, stronger, but we’re not worried about any of that.”
“We’re learning each other,” Alvarado adds, revealing that their journey has been rockier than it may seem.
“This is a great group right here. Coach always asks us to put our egos to the side and that’s what we did. One thing led to another. As a basketball player I just want to play, regardless if it’s off the bench. I just want to make the right plays for my teammates. It was a tough 4 games. No one knows what we went through behind closed doors. Guys got personal and we’re human. But we put our egos to the side and we took care of 4 games.”
With Waters taking a backseat to Alvarado the past two games, the Pelicans point guard may be alluding to him. To that point, Waters was Puerto Rico’s leading scorer in the first game of the tournament. However, chemistry often requires sacrifice, a willing exchange that provides the right balance. The right formula.
If Puerto Rico was going to stamp their passport for a trip to Paris, they needed Alvarado. His defense, his fearlessness, and his ability to will them to victory.
They’re now headed to the Olympics for the first time since 2004.
