Jose Alvarado checked into Game 4 of the NBA Finals with the New York Knicks trailing by 29 points. Most of Madison Square Garden had already surrendered to the inevitable. But one man watching from home never lost faith — and he’s been predicting moments like this for years.
Joe Arbitello, Alvarado’s head coach at Christ the King High School in Queens, watched his former player ignite a comeback that will live in NBA lore. The Knicks stormed back to win 107-106, and Alvarado played nearly 10 of his 16 minutes in the fourth quarter alone. He finished with eight points on 3-for-4 shooting, including two made threes, plus three assists and two rebounds. More importantly, his defensive pressure and unshakeable composure changed the game’s entire energy.
“It’s hard to be a fan. My stomach is in knots,” Arbitello told SNY. “I can’t take the emotional roller coaster. I’m living and dying on every play for this kid.”
The coach admitted that during tense moments he has to step back and remind himself of the bigger picture. “I just sit back and think, ‘He’s playing in the NBA. If the worst possible thing that happens to him is that he loses, people would pay for that kind of success that he’s had.’”
Arbitello’s voice carried obvious pride as he described watching Alvarado’s journey unfold. “Every time I think the story can’t get any better, it does,” he said. Game 4 was the latest chapter in a career that has defied expectations at every turn — from an undersized guard out of Brooklyn to a rotation player on the NBA’s biggest stage.
The coach credits Alvarado’s upbringing for his fearlessness. “No moment’s going to be too big for him,” Arbitello said. “He grew up in Brooklyn. He played at Christ the King. That kid has been battle-tested since he was 14.”
Alvarado now has a chance to deliver something the Knicks haven’t touched in 53 years — a championship. New York leads the series 3-1 and can clinch its first title since 1973 with a win in Game 5 on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. For a player who grew up a Knicks fan in the city, the stakes are personal.
“It’s just such a special moment for him, and it’s a special moment for me, and it’s a special moment for everybody that loves that kid,” Arbitello said. The coach has seen plenty of players come through his program. But every so often, one reminds you that the story isn’t finished yet.
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