A terrifying moment at the AmeriCup as Pelicans star Jose Alvarado took a hard fall and left the court on a stretcher. His incredible performance before the injury was overshadowed by this scary incident. What does this mean for his upcoming NBA season and the New Orleans Pelicans?

A frightening incident unfolded Thursday during the quarterfinals of the 2025 AmeriCup, as New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado sustained a severe fall, necessitating his removal from the court on a stretcher. Competing for Puerto Rico, the dynamic player’s tournament took an unfortunate turn, casting a shadow over what had been a stellar individual performance.

The critical moment occurred during overtime when Alvarado, while fiercely battling for a rebound, lost his balance and appeared to land directly on his tailbone. The impact was significant, leaving him in obvious distress on the court for several minutes before medical personnel carefully transported him off the hardwood.

Prior to his injury, Alvarado was instrumental in keeping Puerto Rico’s hopes alive against Argentina. He delivered an exceptional offensive display, pouring in 25 points over 36 minutes of action, showcasing his shooting prowess by converting 7-of-15 attempts from beyond the arc. His scoring surge was a testament to his crucial role in the team’s fight.

Despite Alvarado’s heroic efforts, Puerto Rico ultimately fell short in the intensely contested overtime period, succumbing to Argentina with a final score of 82-77. Argentina’s victory secured their spot in a semifinal match against Canada, while Puerto Rico’s AmeriCup journey concluded prematurely and dramatically.

This latest incident adds to a challenging injury history for Alvarado, who was among several Pelicans regulars sidelined during the 2024-25 NBA season. He previously missed over a month and a half of action from mid-November to early January due due to a separate ailment, highlighting a recurring pattern of physical setbacks.

Nonetheless, Alvarado demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to health and participating in most of the remaining season. He appeared in 56 games, achieving career-best averages of 10.3 points, 4.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 24.4 minutes per night. These statistics underscored his growing importance to the New Orleans Pelicans’ lineup.

As the NBA offseason approaches, the severity and implications of Alvarado’s AmeriCup injury will be a significant concern for the New Orleans Pelicans. Fans and team management alike will be anxiously awaiting updates on his condition, hoping for a swift recovery that will allow him to continue building on his career-best performance heading into the next season.