José Alvarado is a proud Puerto Rican. The 28-year-old Brooklynite never expected it, but eventually received an incredible opportunity to play for his favorite team growing up in the New York Knicks. Of course, it resulted in him becoming a member of the team that ended the Knicks’ lengthy 53-year title drought.
Now, Alvarado is hoping to keep his incredible year rolling by helping the country he adores. It has been announced that the five-year NBA veteran will be a member of Puerto Rico’s team for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and will play in the two games that will take place later this month.
Puerto Rico says Jose Alvarado will play in its 2 World Cup Qualifiers later this month at Argentina and Uruguay pic.twitter.com/8adqPDKuwo
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 21, 2026
Most experience in NBA on Puerto Rico's roster
Whether Alvarado participates in the 2027 FIBA World Cup—if Puerto Rico qualifies—remains to be seen. While Puerto Rico has made 15 appearances in the tournament, it has never won a medal. Its best finish, fourth place, came back in 1990.
The two games in which Alvarado will take part will be against Argentina on August 27 and Uruguay on August 31. Puerto Rico will be on the road for both qualifier matchups.
Due to the Knicks' playoff run lasting through the NBA Finals, Alvarado has only had about two months of an offseason thus far. Playing in the qualifiers will help him prepare for New York's upcoming training camp and preseason games.
Alvarado easily has the most NBA experience of the 12-man roster. Ethan Thompson played 32 games for the Indiana Pacers last year, but he has signed to play in Serbia for the upcoming season. Davon Reed made 122 appearances over four years in the NBA, last playing in 2023.
Back with the Knicks
On February 5, Alvarado was traded to the Knicks from the New Orleans Pelicans. It didn’t take long for him to become a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden. He scored 12 points in his first game with his new team against the Boston Celtics, and two games later, Alvarado scored 26 points while knocking down eight 3-pointers against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 6-foot guard also played a huge role in New York’s historic Game 4 comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Alvarado played 9:40 of the fourth quarter, scored eight points, dished out three assists, and was a +17.
The Knicks brought Alvarado back this offseason, re-signing him on a three-year deal reportedly worth $14.38 million. It’s been a dream year for Alvarado, who's set to continue playing in New York for years to come. 2026 can certainly continue to be amazing for him while playing for Puerto Rico.
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