NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado has agreed to a two-year contract extension price $9 million, an individual acquainted with the scenario stated Saturday.
The contract features a participant choice for the 2026-27 season, stated the particular person, who spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the settlement has not been introduced.
The deal, first reported by the Occasions-Picayune, comes as Alvarado — a 6-foot, high-energy reserve who went undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2021 — was coming into his remaining season underneath contract.
Throughout three NBA seasons, Alvarado has developed a fame as a heady defender with a penchant for sneaking up on ball-handlers to make back-court steals. He was identified for related exploits in school, incomes the nickname “Grand Theft Alvarado,” and he was named the ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr in 2021.
In 171 video games with New Orleans, he has averaged 7.5 factors, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 18.5 minutes per recreation.
A New York native with Puerto Rican ancestry, Alvarado additionally has performed for Puerto Rico’s nationwide staff, together with on the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This season, Alvarado shall be among the many main backups for newly acquired level guard Dejounte Murray.
Pelicans coaching camp opens in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday after gamers report for a preseason media occasion in New Orleans on Monday.
