Is Jose Alvarado Mexican or Puerto Rican? Exploring his ethnicity and cultural roots

Jose Alvarado, who was just named the MVP of the 2023 NBA All-Star Rising Stars Game, is of Puerto Rican descent. He was born, however, in Brooklyn and played for Georgia Tech in college.

Odilia Martinez and Jose Alvarado Sr. are the parents of the New Orleans Pelicans point guard. He was, however, close to his grandmother Diana Martinez before she died of stomach cancer in 2017.

Alvarado also has a daughter, Nazanin, with his girlfriend, Flor Castillo.

Jose Alvarado was born when he Odilia Martinez was just 17 years old and had a part-time job with a bank. His father also tried his best to make both ends meet. When they're away working, it was with her grandmother that he spent most of his time with.

Alvarado's game is predicated on his defense, toughness, grit and no-holds-barred approach. He often credited his grandmother for all those traits.

“All those reactions like getting everybody pumped, I swear I don’t think about it, sometimes I don’t remember it. It just goes through my game, it just comes out. I don’t even know how to explain it.

“I always compare it to my grandmother that passed away from cancer. She woke up everyday fighting for her life. And I used to wake up everyday complaining, ‘Oh, I got practice. I wake up too early.’ She showed me that you can be so much stronger than what you are.”

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Jose Alvarado persists with his grandmother-inspired traits

"Grand Theft Alvarado" has proven time and again that he can never be counted out.

Jose Alvarado was selected to play alongside several of the NBA's best players in the Jordan Rising Stars Game. Despite the exhibition nature of the match, Alvarado's trademark intangibles were right on the mark.

He was an Energizer Bunny every time he was on the floor and provided hustle, defense and grit to Team Pau, who emerged as champions.

The New Orleans Pelicans guard didn't just stop there. He also nailed the winning three-point shot to push his team's total to 25 points and the championship.

Alvarado had this to say after the game:

"I'm not 6'5. I'm not athletic. I don't got the crazy wingspan, but I got heart that you can't measure."

That immeasurable heart was embodied by the work of his parents Odilia Martinez and Alvarado Sr. It was the kind of trait that was nurtured by grandmother Diana Martinez, who bravely fought cancer to the very end.

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