Nickeil Alexander-Walker Wins NBA Most Improved Player Award
nickeil-alexander-walker-most-improved-player
ATLANTA — April 24, 2026 — Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker was voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player on Friday, becoming the second consecutive Hawk to claim the honor.
The 6-foot-5 guard delivered career highs across the board, averaging 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals while also setting personal bests in blocks, overall shooting percentage and three-point accuracy. His scoring jumped 11.4 points from the 9.4-point average he posted with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024-25, the league’s third-largest year-over-year increase in the past quarter-century.
Alexander-Walker, now in his seventh NBA season, follows teammate Dyson Daniels, last year’s recipient, marking the first time the award has gone to players from the same team in back-to-back years.
Free-agency move pays off
After drawing multiple offers last summer, Alexander-Walker signed with Atlanta when then-Hawks point guard Trae Young persuaded him to join. When Young suffered an early knee injury and was later traded to Washington, Alexander-Walker helped keep Atlanta in the playoff picture.
He reached double figures in 76 games and sank 251 three-pointers, setting a single-season franchise record and finishing fourth league-wide this season.
Emotional reaction
“It really validates my feelings,” Alexander-Walker said, occasionally choking up while speaking with reporters. “Sometimes you feel something that others don’t see yet. This makes me feel less crazy for believing.”
The Toronto native also noted the significance of adding hardware to a family that already includes cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning league and Finals MVP with Oklahoma City. “When you’re Shai’s cousin, you’re often introduced that way,” he said. “Being recognized as Nickeil Alexander-Walker feels great.”
Reflecting on his journey, he added, “When you get an opportunity like this, you have to grab it by the horns and hang on for dear life. I still am, and I still will be.”
Source: ESPN
