DHJ Quick Take
- Award Winner: Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025-26 Kia Most Improved Player, making the Hawks the first team in NBA history to win the award in back-to-back seasons (following Dyson Daniels).
- Statistical Leap: After being acquired from Minnesota last summer, NAW averaged a career-high 20.8 points per game—a massive jump from his 9.4 PPG average the previous season.
- All-Around Impact: Beyond scoring, Alexander-Walker established career highs in rebounds (3.4), assists (3.7) and steals (1.3) while shooting a career-best 39.9% from three-point range.
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has won the Kia Most Improved Player of the Year Award for the 2025-26 season.
The Hawks acquired Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves last summer. Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season. He averaged just 9.4 points per game last season in Minnesota.
Alexander-Walker helped the Hawks go 46-36 in the regular season. They are the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
“Nickeil’s dedication, continual work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said. “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.”
“We are thrilled for Nickeil to see his work acknowledged as the 2026 Most Improved Player. 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, practices daily, or interacts with media,” Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh said. “Nickeil truly embodies what it means to be the best version of yourself, and we are excited for his future growth in our program.”
Alexander-Walker shot 45.9% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 90.2% from the free-throw line this season. The Hawks are the first team since the Most Improved Player of the Year Award’s inception to have back-to-back winners. Dyson Daniels won the award last season.
The cousin of Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Alexander-Walker has career averages of 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in the NBA. He’s played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, Timberwolves and Hawks.
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