Nickeil Alexander-Walker: The Unexpected Rise of the 2025-26 Most Improved Player
The NBA announced Nickeil Alexander-Walker as the 2025-26 Most Improved Player, beating out Deni Avdija and Jalen Duren for the award. Unlike the past trend of winners being first-time All-Stars, Alexander-Walker's win marks the second consecutive year a player from the Atlanta Hawks has won the award. Despite being a former lottery pick, Alexander-Walker's rise to prominence was unexpected, especially after being traded multiple times in his career.
Originally drafted as the No. 17 pick in 2019, Alexander-Walker found himself moving from New Orleans to Portland and then to Utah before landing in Minnesota. While his scoring dipped with the Timberwolves, he excelled as a defensive specialist and improved his three-point shooting significantly. However, Minnesota opted to prioritize other players in the offseason, leading to Alexander-Walker joining the Atlanta Hawks.
In Atlanta, Alexander-Walker was initially signed as a defensive backup but seized the opportunity to become a key player for the team due to an early injury to Trae Young. He not only maintained his defensive prowess but also saw a substantial increase in scoring and assists, becoming a vital part of the Hawks' success. His growth played a significant role in Atlanta's decision to trade Young and helped propel the team to the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
While Alexander-Walker did not earn an All-Star selection this season, his remarkable improvement suggests that he could be a contender for the honor in the future. His transformation from a reliable backup to a core player has elevated the Hawks from a fringe playoff team to a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. With Alexander-Walker as a cornerstone, Atlanta's future looks promising, and his continued development could lead to even greater success for the team in the years to come.