In a season already marred by misfortune, the New Orleans Pelicans have been dealt yet another crushing blow. Guard Jose Alvarado, a rising star and fan favorite, will miss the next six weeks due to a hamstring strain suffered in Monday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets, sources close to the situation told ESPN.
Alvarado’s injury is just the latest in a relentless barrage of ailments that have decimated the Pelicans’ roster. The team is now without a staggering six key rotation players:
- Jose Alvarado (hamstring strain, out 6 weeks)
- Zion Williamson (hamstring strain, out indefinitely)
- Dejounte Murray (torn ACL, out for season)
- CJ McCollum (fractured foot, out 6-8 weeks)
- Herb Jones (back strain, out 3-4 weeks)
- Jordan Hawkins (ankle sprain, out 1-2 weeks)
The loss of Alvarado is particularly devastating given his recent stellar play. The undrafted guard out of Georgia Tech has emerged as a spark plug off the bench, posting back-to-back games of 20-plus points and five assists last week. For the season, he’s averaging 10.7 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.2 rebounds while shooting a blistering 41.9% from three-point range.
“Jose has been playing out of his mind lately. His energy, his defense, his ability to create for others – it’s a huge part of our identity,”
a Pelicans teammate said.
The Pelicans rewarded Alvarado’s breakout performance with a two-year, $9 million contract extension just before the season began. Now, they must find a way to fill the gaping hole left by his absence.
A Season Unraveling
Entering the 2024-25 campaign, the Pelicans had legitimate title aspirations after a promising prior season and offseason. The young core of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum was bolstered by the acquisition of defensive stalwart Dejounte Murray, with Alvarado and Herb Jones providing relentless energy off the bench.
But those dreams have quickly turned into a nightmare. Williamson, the transcendent talent and face of the franchise, suffered a hamstring strain in the preseason that was initially downplayed. Weeks later, he was ruled out indefinitely, with reports surfacing of a far more severe injury than originally disclosed.
The hits kept coming. Murray, the prized offseason addition, tore his ACL just five games into the season. McCollum fractured his foot in early November. Jones strained his back. Hawkins, a rookie sharpshooter, turned his ankle. And now, Alvarado.
“I’ve never seen anything like this. Every day it’s something new, another guy going down. We can’t catch a break,”
a team source lamented.
Staying Afloat
Somehow, the Pelicans have managed to hover around .500 despite the injuries, a testament to the coaching of Willie Green and the resolute play of Brandon Ingram and the remaining rotation players. But the loss of Alvarado feels like a potential breaking point.
With six core players out, the Pelicans will now rely even more heavily on Ingram to carry the offense. Role players like Larry Nance Jr., Naji Marshall, and Devonte’ Graham must step up to fill the void. But asking this skeleton crew to maintain a playoff pace is a tall order.
“We’ll go to war with who we got. That’s all we can do. Next man up,”
Ingram said stoically after learning of Alvarado’s prognosis.
The Road Ahead
The upcoming schedule does the Pelicans no favors. They face a brutal stretch against Western Conference contenders like the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Clippers, with few reprieves. Treading water will be a challenge.
The hope is that reinforcements will arrive after the All-Star break. If Williamson, McCollum, and Alvarado can return in a timely manner, and Jones and Hawkins recover as expected, the Pelicans could get a second wind for the playoff push. A fully healthy squad could still be dangerous in the postseason.
But that’s getting ahead of ourselves. For now, the Pelicans must simply survive, one game at a time. The margin for error is gone. The injuries have seen to that.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. This is the hand we’ve been dealt. We have to play it out and see where it takes us,”
Green said, ever the optimist even in trying times.
The Pelicans’ once promising season hangs in the balance, the fate of their playoff dreams now resting on the broad but overburdened shoulders of Ingram. For the faithful in New Orleans, all they can do is pray for health, for a change of fortune. The basketball gods have been cruel thus far. Time will tell if they show any mercy.
