Being traded to the New York Knicks was a dream come true for Jose Alvarado, a New York native himself, and he's made sure to never waste that opportunity. 

Alvarado brings so much to the Knicks. What stands out the most is his defensive capabilities, namely his steals, and the way that his peskiness can irritate offenses and generate huge momentum swings. He also brings an electricity to the offense off the bench, raining down threes and jumpstarting runs when he switches in.

More than any of that, though, Alvarado's energy has made a massive impact. He's both positive and vocal, two qualities that make him a valuable leader to any team, but especially to the Knicks, who can be prone to fluctuations that themselves are highly energy dependent.

Alvarado's energy is relentless, no matter the situation. Even though he hasn't played as much as usual in the Knicks' last few games, he's never wavered in his effort nor his energy that can uplift the team and that's something that Knicks head coach Mike Brown has been thankful for. 

His ability to stay ready and stay committed in his routine also means that when the time does come for him to switch into games and play meaningful minutes, he transitions back onto the court without a hitch.

That was the case for Alvarado and the Knicks in their Friday win over the Toronto Raptors 112-94, a huge win over another formidable Eastern Conference team.

"Jose was big for us. He was big on both ends of the court," Brown said (via SNY). "He's been our main guys leading the cheers and and uplifting everybody from the bench, even though he hadn't played. So, he's mentally been present at a really high level. So, when his number was called to play major minutes for us, it was easy for him."

Alvarado played 18 minutes on Friday and scored 12 points, along with five rebounds and two assists while turning the ball over just once. 

Energy is something that's needed in any sport, but it may be the most impactful in basketball, especially for players coming off the bench that may not now exactly when they'll be called upon again. 

Energy is something that Alvarado has in spades, and living out his dream with the New York Knicks and playing in the thick of a playoff race definitely helps with that. 

His energy and his readiness are something that the Knicks will need down the line and performances like he had on Friday definitely instill confidence in Brown and the Knicks that he can be depended on time and time again.