What happened: Jose Alvarado, fresh off an NBA championship, took on a New Era Player Correspondent role at the 2026 NBA Draft, meeting projected lottery prospect AJ Dybantsa on the red carpet ahead of the first round. The same Jose Alvarado who just won his first title traded the floor for the microphone for draft night.

Why it matters: The appearance puts a recent champion in front of the next wave of talent as the league turns toward the 2026-27 season. Dybantsa is among the most-watched names in this class, making the red-carpet exchange a notable crossover between a title winner and a headline prospect.

What to watch: The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is set to tip at 8:00 p.m. ET, with Dybantsa expected to come off the board early.