‘It brought me to tears.’ Williamsburg celebrates hometown star Jose Alvarado in NBA Finals
Jose Alvarado, who was born in the Roberto Clemente Plaza in Williamsburg, has become a source of pride for residents who watched him grow up, long before he reached basketball's biggest stage.
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As fans across New York celebrated the Knicks' historic NBA Finals comeback Wednesday night, many in Williamsburg were cheering for one of their own.
Jose Alvarado, who was born in the Roberto Clemente Plaza in Williamsburg, has become a source of pride for residents who watched him grow up, long before he reached basketball's biggest stage.
For Armani Ortega, Alvarado's childhood friend, seeing him play in the NBA Finals was an emotional moment.
"It brought me to tears," Ortega said. "I couldn't believe what I was watching."
Ortega was inside Madison Square Garden for Wednesday night's game and said the team's comeback reminded him of Alvarado's own journey.
"I just feel like the game was poetic in a way," he said. "It was a testament to how we grew up. We were down in a way that no one, no team, has ever come back from. And we came back. Just like in life, we came from nothing."
As a child, Alvarado spent time playing basketball at Epiphany Playground on Berry Street. Young people who use the court today say his success shows what is possible for kids growing up in the neighborhood.
"Not everybody gets a lot of attention compared to other places in the city," one teen said. "So it feels good knowing that he makes it possible."
Residents say Alvarado's story resonates because he grew up in a Williamsburg that looked very different from the neighborhood today.
"It's not all sunshine and rainbows here," one longtime neighbor said. "It might be nice now that it got gentrified, but you got kids that grew up with us across the street that got killed by the gun."
Alvarado's cousin, Jonathan Alvarado, said those challenges helped fuel his determination.
"A lot of people doubted him,” he said. “He used that to motivate him and gave him that hunger."
Family members describe Alvarado as humble despite his success.
"Very funny, very humble," his cousin said. "He carries his heart on his sleeve. He has a very big heart."
Earlier this year, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso honored Alvarado with a proclamation recognizing his accomplishments.
Reynoso, who also grew up in Williamsburg, said Alvarado's story is proof that determination can overcome difficult circumstances.
"It doesn't matter your circumstances," Reynoso said. "It's all about heart."
Today, Alvarado and Ortega are also business partners. The pair opened Stealth New York in Greenpoint, a clothing store with a basketball court inside.
"If you pass by on a normal Tuesday, you'll catch him shooting around or just sitting in the store," Ortega said.
For many in Williamsburg, Alvarado's NBA Finals appearance represents more than a basketball achievement. It's a reminder that someone from their neighborhood made it to the highest level of the sport without forgetting where he came from.
