Hawks Nickeil Alexander-Walker named Most Improved Player
Nickeil Alexander-Walker was named this season’s Most Improved Player on Friday, marking the second straight Atlanta Hawks participant to win the NBA award.
Alexander-Walker averaged a career-high 20.8 factors, 3.7 assists and three.4 rebounds to go together with 1.3 steals per sport. He additionally averaged career-highs in blocks, area aim share and 3-point area aim share.
The 6-5 guard elevated his scoring by 11.4 factors from the 9.4 factors per sport he averaged coming off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves through the 2024-25 season. That is the third-highest improve from one season to the subsequent over the previous 25 years.
“Nickeil’s dedication, continued work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder stated in a press release. “He has a tireless work ethic and a focus on improving in every aspect of his game. His game continues to evolve, and his commitment and unselfish attitude as a teammate have also positively impacted the success of the team.”
Alexander-Walker follows teammate Dyson Danielswho took the award final season. This is the primary time within the award’s historical past that two straight winners got here from the identical workforce.
In his seventh season, Alexander-Walker thrived with the Hawks. The guard informed ESPN early within the season that he had a number of suitors in free company however selected the Hawks after former Hawks level guard Trae Young talked to and recruited him.
When Young suffered a knee damage early within the season after which was finally traded to Washington, Alexander-Walker helped the Hawks stay a playoff workforce. The 6-5 guard scored in double figures in 76 video games and made 251 three-pointers this season, a single-season franchise document and fourth-most within the league this season.
“We are thrilled for Nickeil to see his work recognized as the 2026 Most Improved Player,” Hawks normal supervisor Onsi Saleh stated in a press release. “He brings a high level of care and professionalism to everything he does associated with the game of basketball, whether that be how he watches film, daily practices or interacts with media. Nickeil truly embodies what it means to be the best version of himself and we are excited for his future growth in our program.”
