Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker won the Kia Most Improved Player of the Year Award for the 2025-26 season.
After Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker won the Kia Most Improved Player of the Year Award for the 2025-26 season, his head coach spoke about the special moment.
“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.”
The Hawks acquired Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves last offseason. Alexander-Walker averaged 20.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game during the regular season. He averaged only 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 2026 Eastern Conference playoffs.
Alexander-Walker shot 45.9% from the field, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 90.2% from the free-throw line in the regular season. The Hawks are the first team since the Most Improved Player of the Year Award’s birth 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.
“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.”
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