Shai Gilgeous-Alexander champions his cousin's dominant season. Nickeil Alexander-Walker's scoring leap and ironman durability fuel his improbable Most Improved Player bid.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is now a large favorite to win the NBA's 'Most Improved Player' after an extremely strong month of March into April, and the fact that Alexander-Walker has made a 10+ point per game scoring increase in his first season with the Atlanta Hawks, compared to his career average, is extremely impressive. It will make more sense when the statistics are outlined.
In 77 games this season, 'NAW' is averaging 20.9 points per game on 46% shooting from the field, and an impressive 40% mark from beyond the arc.
Over 458 games in his career, Alexander-Walker has averaged 10.6 points per game. In 2025, NAW averaged 9.4 PPG over 25.3 minutes per contest.
Notably, Alexander-Walker's cousin is NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (hence the shared 'Alexander' name). In a recent postgame conference, SGA was asked about NAW's MIP case:
"Yeah, he better win."
"I think what's most impressive about it is just like how he stuck with it, like us obviously going through so many experiences of life together, being the same age and obviously both making it to the NBA, our pasts were like connected until a certain point, and then they just went left and right."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander goes on to give credit to NAW because his own path (SGA's) has been a little easier because of his freedom being able to take just about any shot he wants, which has not been the case for Alexander-Walker throughout his career.
Alexander-Walker is starting to be looked at as one of the best contracts in the NBA, and for the right reason. Nickeil is the rare combination of a strong 3-point shooter, veteran presence, and a guy who plays about every single game.
With the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2023 to 2025, Alexander-Walker played 164 straight games, and he's on pace to play 79 with the Hawks in his first season with the team. In today's NBA, that is ultra-RARE.
