The New Orleans Pelicans have high expectations for the 2023-24 NBA season. They feature a quality core of players and could be a contender. However, New Orleans was dealt a concerning injury update ahead of training camp, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Guard Jose Alvarado suffered an ankle sprain during a recent workout and his status for Pelicans’ training camp is now uncertain, Charania reports.
This is an injury update that may be overlooked by some. That said, Pelicans fans understand just how important Alvarado is to the team. No, he isn’t a superstar by any means, but Alvarado is a pesky defender who is capable of also making an impact offensively.
Alvarado, 25, is preparing for his third year in the NBA. After a decent rookie season, Alvarado took a step forward during the 2022-23 campaign. He averaged 9.0 points and 3.0 assists per game. Again, as mentioned earlier, Alvarado’s primary contributions come from his defense and hustle. Although this injury doesn’t appear to be too serious, it will be something to monitor.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jose Alverado & New Orleans Pelicans Updates
The Pelicans expect to compete this season. CJ McCollum is a leader on the roster and Brandon Ingram is a star. That said, New Orleans’ success will likely be dependent upon the health of Zion Williamson. When healthy, Williamson is a dominant force in the paint who isn’t bothered by heavy defensive pressure. Injuries, though, have consistently kept him out of the rotation throughout the course of his career.
In fact, injuries in general will be something the Pelicans have to find a way to contain. The potential is there for this team, but keeping everyone on the floor will be of the utmost importance.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jose Alverado & New Orleans Pelicans Updates
For now, it’s uncertain as to whether or not Jose Alvarado will be ready for training camp. We will provide updates on his status as they are made available.
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