Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025-26 NBA Most Improved Player, giving Atlanta back-to-back winners after Dyson Daniels.
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025-26 NBA Most Improved Player, earning the George Mikan Trophy after a breakout first season in Atlanta.
Alexander-Walker averaged career highs of 20.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, while also setting personal bests in blocks, field goal percentage, and 3-point field goal percentage. His 11.4-point jump from 9.4 points per game with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2024-25 marks the third-largest year-over-year scoring increase in the past 25 years and makes him the fifth qualified player in the last 35 seasons with a leap of 11 or more points.
The 6-foot-5 guard becomes the second consecutive Hawks player to claim the honor, following teammate Dyson Daniels in 2024-25. It is the first time in the history of the award that two straight winners have come from the same franchise.
"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 in a statement. "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 arrived in Atlanta last summer after being recruited by former Hawks point guard Trae Young. When Young suffered a knee injury early in the season and was later traded to the Washington Wizards, Alexander-Walker stepped into a larger role and scored in double figures in 76 games. He also connected on 251 3-pointers, a single-season Hawks franchise record and the fourth-highest total in the NBA this season.
The seventh-year guard and the Hawks are currently facing the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Atlanta holds a 2-1 series lead.