Puerto Rico Faces World Cup Dilemma with Absence of Pelicans’ Jose Alvarado
by Rell Wright/Pelican Contributor
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado’s dreams of representing Puerto Rico in the upcoming FIBA World Cup have been dashed due to an unfortunate injury. The news was announced on Thursday, as Puerto Rico released its roster without Alvarado’s name on it.
The Pelicans made the decision not to allow Alvarado to participate, citing the stress reaction he suffered in his tibia, which had already sidelined him for the latter part of the 2022-23 regular season. Carlos Arroyo, the general manager for the Puerto Rican national team, disclosed that a recent MRI showed that Alvarado’s injury has not yet fully healed.
The injury occurred on February 27, causing him to miss the last six weeks of the season for New Orleans, where he had averaged 9 points, 3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in 61 appearances.
Sources within the Pelicans organization revealed that the decision to exclude Alvarado from the World Cup roster was a precautionary measure. The team wants to ensure his full recovery before he reports to their upcoming training camp, which is scheduled to take place in two months.
While it’s undoubtedly disappointing for Alvarado to miss out on the international tournament, his health and long-term well-being remain the top priority for both the Pelicans and the Puerto Rican national team. With proper rest and rehabilitation, fans hope to see Alvarado back in action and performing at his best when he returns to the court.
