Nickeil Alexander-Walker wins NBA Most Improved Player award, beats Duren and Avdija
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025-26 NBA Most Improved Player, the league announced on Friday. The Atlanta Hawks guard secured the honor over finalists Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Alexander-Walker’s selection marks a remarkable turnaround for a player who spent much of his early career moving between teams. After being selected 17th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in the CJ McCollum deal, then quickly sent to the Utah Jazz. A year later, he was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he began to carve out a role as a defensive specialist and improved three-point shooter.
Despite showing promise in Minnesota, Alexander-Walker was not re-signed by the Timberwolves in the summer of 2025 as they prioritized Naz Reid and Julius Randle amid salary cap constraints. His departure opened the door for the Atlanta Hawks, who signed him to a four-year, $62 million deal in a sign-and-trade agreement.
The move proved transformative. With starting point guard Trae Young sidelined early by injury, Alexander-Walker stepped into a larger role and thrived. He started all 82 games for the Hawks, averaging 20.8 points per game — more than double his output from the previous season — along with 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per contest.
His scoring surge came alongside improved efficiency. After shooting just 32.9% from three-point range over his first three seasons, Alexander-Walker raised his mark to 38.4% with the Wolves and maintained that trajectory in Atlanta. He finished the season with eight games of 30 or more points, including a career-high 41-point performance in March that helped spark a double-digit winning streak for Atlanta.
Alexander-Walker likewise became the Hawks’ leading scorer in total regular-season points and ranked second on the team in points per game. His all-around growth — combining increased scoring volume with sustained defensive awareness and playmaking — set him apart from a competitive field that included two first-time All-Stars in Duren and Avdija.
Notably, seven of the past nine Most Improved Player winners had been first-time All-Star selections, but Alexander-Walker broke that trend. Like Dyson Daniels, who won the award last season while also playing for the Hawks, Alexander-Walker earned the honor without an All-Star nod, underscoring the voting body’s recognition of statistical and impact-driven improvement over popularity or visibility alone.
The award concludes a seven-year wait for Alexander-Walker to receive his first NBA honor. His journey — from a lottery pick shuffled across four teams in his first five seasons to a cornerstone piece for a playoff-contending franchise — reflects a rare blend of patience, adaptability, and sustained development.
As the Hawks seem to build on this season’s momentum, Alexander-Walker’s growth serves as both a foundation and a benchmark. His ability to elevate his game in a expanded role — particularly after Young’s injury forced him into primary playmaking duties — suggests a ceiling that may still be rising.
The NBA will continue its offseason schedule in the coming weeks, with free agency negotiations and draft preparations underway. For Alexander-Walker, the focus now shifts to maintaining this trajectory and helping Atlanta advance deeper into the postseason next year.
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