Jose Alvarado's High School Coach Praised the 'Loyal' Knicks Champion

The New York Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years has a local flavor. Traded deadline acquisition Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, offered his Christ the King in Middle Village, Queens coach a moment of reflection nearly a decade after the freshly minted champ played for him.

Jose Alvarado's high school coach, Joe Arbitello, took to Instagram to express his pride in his former student's achievement. Arbitello recalled the characteristics that make Alvarado such a successful player, noting his loyalty was notable, as he stayed at Christ the King and played for just one AAU team throughout his amateur career.

Alvarado's loyalty extended to his college decision, as he picked and stuck with Georgia Tech for his entire college career. Whenever he was on the bench, Alvarado was always engaged in the game and never moped,

Arbitello remembered Alvarado saying from the bench that he was 'getting paid to have the best seat in the house.' That quote proved somewhat prophetic as Alvarado became one of the Knicks' first bench options after coming over from the Pelicans on Feb. 5.

His addition proved critical to the team's championship run as he drained critical three-pointers during comebacks in Games 4 and 5 and gave star Jalen Brunson crucial rest by playing quality minutes.

Now, Christ the King, which boasts the likes of Lamar Odom, Jayson Williams, Speedy Claxton, Sue Bird, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Tina Charles among its alumni, has another NBA champion among its graduates.