THE FLATS – Jose Alvarado has been named to play in the Rising Stars Game during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend … Also, Alvarado signs shoe deal with a Chinese company … Josh Okogie on and off the court … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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ALVARADO PICKED TO PLAY IN RISING STARS GAME
Former Georgia Tech guard Jose Alvarado is going to be playing in this year’s NBA Rising Stars game.
Alvarado has been one of the best stories in the NBA since the undrafted point guard emerged onto the scene for the New Orleans Pelicans and this is another great achievement for Alvarado.
Alvarado is one of the most important players off the bench for the Pelicans and he is having a solid season. He is averaging 9.5 PPG off the bench to go along with 3.2 assists and 2.4 rebounds and one steal per game. His three-point shooting percentage is at 34% and he is playing 22 minutes per game.
Oh man … this is crazy !!! I can’t even believe it. Thank y’all ❤️ https://t.co/FMnvya5kz9
— Jose Alvarado (@AlvaradoJose15) January 31, 2023
Earning his 1st #JordanRisingStars selection… Jose Alvarado of the @PelicansNBA!@AlvaradoJose15 went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Georgia Tech.
See his highlights, stats and MORE, now in the NBA App: https://t.co/xI9Icbbx7w pic.twitter.com/7sLOmWf2PZ
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) January 31, 2023
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ALVARADO SIGNS SHOE DEAL
Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado has gone from undrafted rookie last season to a second-year player with a new four-year, $6.5 million contract and now his own shoe endorsement deal, according to an ESPN report.
ESPN sports business reporter Nick DePaula tweeted last week that Alvarado had signed a multi-year contract with the Chinese company Peak Sport Products Company, Ltd., and would be the face of the Quanzhou City-based manufacturer’s upcoming “Attitude” shoe line and advertising campaign.
Peak has been around since 1989, according to the company’s English-language website. Alvarado is not the first NBA player signed to wear the company’s products. The website says it has or had endorsement deals with players Shane Battier, Dwight Howard, O.J. Mayo, Tony Parker, Andrew Wiggins and Lou Williams.
Two of the company’s Tony Parker shoes currently sell for $129.99 and $119.99, respectively. It was unclear when the first Alvarado shoes will be available to the public, nor what the price point would be. But the news had some fans of the 24-year-old guard excited.
BREAKING: Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado has signed a multi-year shoe deal with PEAK. 📄✍️@AlvaradoJose15 will headline the brand’s Attitude series of hoop shoes and be featured in brand campaigns. pic.twitter.com/7W0OsqlXpW
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) January 26, 2023
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BANKS RETURNS FROM INJURY BUT STRUGGLES
From CBSSports.com: James Banks tallied zero points (0-2 FG), five rebounds, two steals and one assist in 20 minutes during Thursday’s 131-108 loss to the Austin Spurs. Banks played in his first game Thursday since being put on the injured list for an undisclosed reason in late November. Despite failing to score, he did start in his return.
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OKOGIE: THE MAN, THE GAMES, THE SHADES
Josh Okogie is a basketball sensation. At the age of just twenty-four, he plays for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA and has already represented the Nigerian national basketball team at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Born in Lagos, Okogie emigrated to the USA with his family at the age of three. The Okogie family settled in Snellville, Georgia, where Josh began playing basketball while at high school. Starting his professional career with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018, he played in the NBA Summer League with the team for the first time that same year.
But Okogie isn’t just known for his skills on the court; he’s renowned for his sharp dress sense, too. His bright shirts, crisply tailored jackets, jewelry, and on-trend sunglasses mean he’s frequently the top scorer when it comes to aesthetic achievement. We explore more about the NBA star’s on and off-court style below, including how to get his look yourself!
