The New Orleans Pelicans have dealt with their fair share of brutal injuries to begin the 2024-25 NBA season. Unfortunately for the team, their injury report is only getting longer. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado suffered a hamstring injury. Because of the injury, Alvarado will likely miss around six weeks.
Another injury blow to New Orleans: Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado is expected to miss six weeks due to a hamstring injury, sources told ESPN.
New Orleans is now without Alvarado, Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Jordan Hawkins. pic.twitter.com/8BLBGBTM3W
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2024
New Orleans Pelicans Lose Jose Alvarado For 6 Weeks Due to a Hamstring Injury
Jose Alvarado’s Season So Far
Through the first 11 games of the season, Alvarado is averaging 10.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. Additionally, he is shooting 39.6% from the field and 40% from the three-point line. Primarily a backup during his Pelicans tenure, Alvarado has already started seven games for the team due to injuries. After finishing sixth in 6MOY voting last season, the 26-year-old was in line for a career year. Though he can still have one, this injury is certainly a big loss for him and the Pelicans. To make matters worse for Alvarado, this is not the only injury he suffered within the past few months.
While representing Puerto Rico during the 2024 Paris Olympics, Alvarado suffered an ankle injury. Though he was able to play through the injury, it was still a difficult situation for him regardless. Alvarado is a solid player who has played a big role in New Orleans so far. Head coach Willie Green recently spoke about Alvarado’s impact in New Orleans, calling him “an extremely high-level IQ basketball player.”
“You watched the Olympics, he’s very versatile,” credited Pelicans point guard Jose Alvarado, the Puerto Rican Olympic team’s top player. “He can pop, he can make threes, but he also knows when to shoot them, when not to shoot them. He’s a smart player out there. He knows what to do at the right time.” “He’s an extremely high-level IQ basketball player,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green said. “You don’t have to tell him a lot – he figures it out on the fly. Spacing, where to be defensively. I think he’s going to be a huge component to our team. He’s fit in seamlessly.”
The Last Word
With Alvarado now injured, the Pelicans have even more notable players on the sidelines. This includes Zion Williamson, Jordan Hawkins, Herbert Jones, CJ McCollum, and Dejounte Murray. Fortunately for the team, Trey Murphy III, who was dealing with a hamstring injury, made his season debut on Monday night. In the loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Murphy recorded 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting, five rebounds, and two blocks.
The Pelicans are currently 3-8, tied for the second-worst record in the West with the Portland Trail Blazers. Additionally, they are in the midst of a five-game losing streak. A playoff team last season, the Pelicans have clearly been hit hard with their injuries. The season is still young, and they have a lot of time to turn things around. However, given the state of their team, this will prove to be a difficult task for the team.
