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Nobody saw Jose Alvarado coming.
The undrafted New Orleans Pelicans rookie guard has had a breakout season few could have expected, averaging eight points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game off the bench since the All-Star break. The Pelicans, in turn, converted his two-way, G League deal into a four-year, $6.5 million contract on Monday, a reward for his two-way contributions.
Alvarado has most made a name for himself on the defensive end, where he has mastered perhaps the most unique move in the NBA: a sneak attack in the backcourt on opposing guards.
After made baskets, Alvarado will drift to the sidelines and out of view. When opposing teams inbound the ball, he sneaks up behind the ball-handler and steals or pokes the ball away.
He pulled off a particularly impressive one against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, lurking in the corner, then darting after the ball as the Blazers brought it up the court.
—Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 31, 2022
Even when he hasn't gotten steals out of it, he's occasionally forced turnovers by surprising the opposing ball-handler.
—Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) March 25, 2022
Pelicans guard CJ McCollum has been impressed with this niche skill of Alvarado's.
"I've never seen anything like that it in my life," McCollum told Christian Clark of Nola.com. "It's crazy. He's so fast. He takes himself out of the play. He's getting everybody."
Alvarado told Clark that he hopes to keep opponents on edge but said it can be a gamble that can get him in trouble with his coaches.
"Just keeping the opponent on their toes," Alvarado said. "Like, 'Where's Jose? Where's Jose?' That's the main thing about it.
He added: "It's not as easy as it looks. If you miss it, you're going to have coach probably going in on you. If I do mess up, I know I have to run full speed back on defense."
Sneaky moves like this have made Alvarado a valuable commodity for New Orleans.
