New Orleans Pelicans fans won't have a local interest in the All-Star Game itself due to Zion Williamson's injury, but Jose Alvarado managed to become the unlikely star himself.
The firebrand second-year guard was a starter on Pau Gasol's team in the four-group derby that pitted some of the NBA's best rookies and sophomore and even G-league talent against each other. The first game was played to 40, the title game to 25. Alvarado never stopped entertaining.
Alvarado had 13 points in the first game, leading his group to a 40-25 win over teammate Trey Murphy and Deron Williams' team, but the way he did it was particularly entertaining. He was mic'd up on the broadcast for a majority of it, and while that was going on he scored 11 points and hilariously narrated many of his own plays.
Teammate Trey Murphy had two highlight dunks of his own in the losing effort, offering an intriguing preview of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest he's set to participate in Saturday night out in Utah.
But it was Alvarado who stole the show in the end. After chatting up Donovan Mitchell sitting courtside and telling him if he got the ball he'd hit a game-winning three, he did just that, taking a pass on the run from teammate Bennedict Mathurin and knocking down the game-winner. Alvarado was the only undrafted player to participate in the event.
He notched just five points in the finals win, but it was more than enough to land the MVP hardware. He also played real defense on opponent Quentin Grimes, who had 14 points but was eliminated by Alvarado in the game's final moments.
"Man it's crazy. It's hard to put in words. This is just something you can't write. You can't wish for it. ... Anything is possible," Alvarado said after the game. "I'm not 6-5. I'm not athletic. I don't got the crazy wingspan, but I've got heart you can't measure and if you bring that and you be yourself at all times, I think a lot of things will just come your way."
