Holder in the lead during the two meetings for Team Gasol, Jose Alvarado allowed his one-night teammates to win the tournament thanks to his energy and skill, and he was therefore logically elected MVP of the event.
Pau Gasol trusted him, he was not mistaken. Jose Alvarado was voted MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge 2023 and it is deserved for the point guard of the Pelicans, who was an executive of Team Gasol in both games.
JOSE ALVARADO ELECTED MVP OF THE RISING STARS CHALLENGE 2023 ???????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/YjNhzgpWWM
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) February 18, 2023
In the semi-final, against Team Deron, Alvarado finished as the game’s top scorer with 13 points. If his team wins 40-25, it’s because the pocket leader took responsibility when needed. Half-distance shoot, 3-point, drive, interception, decisive pass and even big defensive streak, Alvarado was everywhere, he got everyone involved thanks to his headset and did a lot to qualify his teammates for the final . The native of New York plays totally liberated, as if he were on the playground, and it shows.
A certified bucket getter.
Peep Jose Alvarado’s #JordanRisingStars MVP mixtape ???? pic.twitter.com/6SoruJRNsP
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2023
In the final, Jose Alvarado was also omnipresent. Less impactful in scoring, of course, but he compensated with enormous activity in defense, especially on Quentin Grimes, Team Noah’s top scorer. In the last game of the event, the guard was offensively a little more behind. The score to be reached being 25, it is therefore a smaller and also more diversified scoring that would allow Team Gasol to dominate the game. But when said game is tense, who is there to come close the shop? Jose Alvarado obviously. The leader was clutchissime and decided to take the winning shot, he had moreover announced it to Donovan Mitchell, present at the edge of the field: “if there is need for a game winner, friend Jose is here.”
22-20 for Team Gasol, the players in yellow only need 3 points to win. Alvarado mounts the ball, locks himself in at 45 degrees, takes a more than complicated shot… string. Team Gasol wins 25-20 and wins the 2023 edition of the Rising Stars, thanks to a huge GTA shoot!
JOSE ALVARADO CALLED GAME ‼️
TEAM PAU WINS #JordanRisingStars pic.twitter.com/EqyNmSdlWT
— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2023
A huge shoot taken in total confidence, as explained by the person concerned, who had no pressure.
“My teammates gave me confidence, I tried to give them back. I just wanted to come here, play and enjoy the atmosphere. We are in an All-Star Weekend, we are having fun, we can’t complain.
Ahem.