The New York Knicks completed one of the most incredible single-game comebacks in not only basketball history, but sports history, on Wednesday. They erased a 29-point lead for the San Antonio Spurs en route to a jaw-dropping 107-106 win in Game 4.
Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby will get all the headlines, and deservedly so, but there was an unlikely hero who also contributed mightily to the Knicks' 32-point fourth quarter. That would be Jose Alvarado.
The Knicks bench guard wound up playing heavy minutes in the fourth quarter, getting close to 10 minutes, trailing only Brunson and Anunoby in that department. What came of that added time on the court was eight points, shooting 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, three assists, two rebounds, and a +17 rating in just the closing quarter alone.
With a player option for 2026-27, Alvarado could enter free agency this summer. Some will argue that should put him on the Lakers' radar. That thought raises an worthwhile counterpoint. Why would the Los Angeles Lakers pay up for Jose Alvarado when they could just develop Jose Alvarado at home?
Continuing to develop Bronny James could give Lakers their own Jose Alvarado
Bronny James came into the NBA as the 55th pick touting the defensive side of the basketball as the strength of his upside in the league. That should still be James' calling card when he is at his best.
Bronny's athleticism allows him to be a pesky defender that every team loves to have when the gears are fully clicking for him. The consistent development of James throughout his first two years in the NBA should offer plenty of encouragement that moment does arrive.
Offense has always been the side of the court where the Lakers have craved more development in their young guard. Anyone who followed along with the South Bay Lakers would know James showed considerable promise.
Some will immediately argue that Alvarado is a misplaced comparison for James considering the former New Orleans Pelicans guard arrived as an impactful player immediately in his rookie season. However, Alvarado also spent four years at the NCAA level with Georgia Tech fine-tuning his game.
Bronny was a one-and-done at USC, making his development (from a team standpoint) the responsibility of the Lakers. That is why Los Angeles should not be quick to give up on the encouraging signs of growth they have seen thus far.
Will James be playing heavy minutes in the fourth quarter of NBA Finals games for the Lakers in the future? That much is tough to project. Can Bronny provide the type of two-way impact at the guard spot that Alvarado did for the Knicks on Wednesday? With the right time and care, absolutely.
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