Jose Alvarado is the only native New Yorker on the Knicks' roster. Fans react

NPR | By Samantha Max

Published June 13, 2026 at 7:39 AM EDT

Jose Alvarado, the only Knicks player born in New York City, lived in public housing in South Williamsburg. Fans there speak of him as a legitimate "homegrown star."

Samantha Max

Samantha Max covers criminal justice for WPLN and joins the newroom through the Report for America program. This is her second year with Report for America: She spent her first year in Macon, Ga., covering health and inequity for The Telegraph and macon.com.

See stories by Samantha Max

SUSTAIN what matters. BUILD what’s next.

With federal funding eliminated, WKAR relies more than ever on community support to sustain essential services that remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan. Your support helps shape what comes next for public media in our region. The best way to support WKAR is by becoming a sustaining member today or by upgrading your current gift. Support WKAR TV Here | Support WKAR Radio Here.