Guys who are Jose Alvarado’s size aren’t supposed to grab nine rebounds in an NBA game, which is what the Pelicans guard did Sunday night.

They aren’t supposed to snag seven rebounds in a game, either, which is what the 6-foot Alvarado did the game before that.

But if there is one thing we should have learned by now about Alvarado is that you probably shouldn’t tell him what he shouldn’t be able to do. Chances are, he’s going to prove you wrong, just like he’s done since arriving in the NBA back in 2021 as an undrafted rookie.

Alvarado put his stamp all over Sunday’s 114-96 come-from-behind victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the Smoothie King Center.

He finished with 12 points, nine boards and nine assists while committing just one turnover. And that’s not counting the plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet, like the time he slid across the floor diving for a loose ball.

“Jose ignited the whole team with his energy, his spirit,” Pelicans coach Willie Greens said.

The only person who touched the court with more energy than Alvarado on Sunday was the toddler who won the baby crawl race at halftime. He won the race in about 21 seconds, which is about how fast Alvarado helped flip the switch to help the Pelicans rally from a 17-point first-half deficit.

The nine rebounds eclipsed his career-high of eight. The only players who grabbed more rebounds than him Sunday were guys who stand at least 8 inches taller than him. Teammates Yves Missi (6-foot-11) and Kelly Olynyk (7 feet) recorded 15 rebounds each, a season-high for both. San Antonio’s Bismack Biyombo (6-8) had 10 rebounds.

Alvarado had the same amount of rebounds as Zion Williamson.

“Jose was the vocal leader, and his energy really shifted the course of the game,” Williamson said. “His energy is very infectious because it seems like he’s all over the court.”

Usually, he is.

“If that (rebounding) is something I need to do to elevate us to win, that’s what I’m going to do,” Alvarado said. “I’m confident in my game. I know this game better. I feel like I’m getting better, just to improve every year, every game. If that’s a jump in rebounds, points, assists, whatever, that’s what I’m trying to focus on.”

Rebounding, of course, is easier when teams are missing as many shots as the Spurs did Sunday. They shot just 32 of 97 from the floor and made 15 of 51 3-point attempts.

“We just had to box out and get stops,” Alvarado said. “If we play fast and get stops, that’s’ when we win the best. That’s what we are locked in on.”

Alvarado didn’t have as blunt of an answer on the keys to his rebounding as the one former Pelicans guard Josh Hart gave me a few years back. Hart, considered one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA, recorded a double-double in his Pelicans’ debut against the Toronto Raptors back in the 2019-20 season opener. 

His answer that night on his rebounding success: “Just go get the f****** ball,” Hart said.

Alvarado says the key for him is just “tracking the ball.”

“Getting a feel for it,” he said. 

He knows missed 3-pointers typically mean long rebounds. He’s able to get his hands on those and initiate the break. The Pelicans ended up with 19 fast-break points in the second half after not having any in the first half. That’s a credit to Alvarado, who plays every minute as if the Pelicans record is 43-14 instead of 14-43.

“Our season is our season,” Alvarado said. “We don’t love how it’s going. We don’t like how it is. But you’ve got to build good habits and keep getting better every day.”

Spoken like the true leader he’s become.

“He’s not afraid,” Green said. “He’s going to step on the floor and give you everything he has.”

He may have been the smallest player on the court Sunday. But he was also arguably the best.