ELISSA NADWORNY, HOST:
The New York Knicks could win their first championship in more than 50 years when they play the San Antonio Spurs tonight in the fifth game of the NBA finals. Backup point guard Jose Alvarado is the only native New Yorker on the Knicks' roster this year. He's now a hometown hero. Samantha Max of member station WNYC has this story from his old neighborhood in Brooklyn.
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SAMANTHA MAX, BYLINE: Jonathan Wilson (ph) is shooting hoops on a basketball court across from the Berry Street Houses, where Jose Alvarado grew up.
JONATHAN WILSON: I like taking my lunch break here and just taking a couple shots.
MAX: Are you a Knicks fan?
WILSON: Of course. Let's go Knicks.
MAX: The fenced-in court next to a playground is small, but locals say it's still a favorite for pickup players in this part of Williamsburg. There are fresh nets and glass backboards. Alvarado grew up playing on courts like these. After Game 4 on Wednesday night, Alvarado described himself as a kid from here.
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JOSE ALVARADO: I'm in Madison Square Garden in the fourth quarter, playing with these guys, and we're playing for something special. I was just excited. It - really something I couldn't put in words.
MAX: Alvarado was raised in public housing in a neighborhood that's now known for its luxury waterfront high-rises and trendy coffee shops. It's also home to many New Yorkers of Puerto Rican heritage, like Alvarado. The 28-year-old played in high school in Queens and in college at Georgia Tech and joined the NBA in 2021. The Knicks signed him this February. Alvarado has scored some clutch points throughout the final series. He also had a viral moment earlier this week when he stumbled into the lap of former mayor Michael Bloomberg during Game 3.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: As Alvarado dives into the stands and checks with former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
MAX: A few blocks from Alvarado's home, Alex Perez is in a Knicks hat. He says he's waited his whole life for this moment. He was born in 1974, the year after they last won the NBA Championship trophy.
ALEX PEREZ: Hopefully, you know, they can do it.
MAX: With Alvarado representing Williamsburg, Perez and his friend, Luis Lopez, say the neighborhood has been loud. They say it means a lot for a local to be on the squad.
PEREZ: It's great, yeah.
LUIS LOPEZ: I mean, it shows what we can do over here, right? His talent and all types of different creeds come from right here in Williamsburg, and we've been here, so Alvarado doing what he's doing is really helpful to us.
MAX: Now Alvarado is one game away from winning a championship with a team he's been rooting for since he was a kid.
For NPR News, I'm Samantha Max in New York. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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