Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s rise in Atlanta has been gradual, intentional, and increasingly essential. Even on a night when his perimeter shot abandoned him, the 27-year-old guard continued showing why the Hawks view him as a pillar in their evolving offensive structure.

Alexander-Walker has averaged 18.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists through 13 games this season. Over his last five, those numbers have climbed to 20.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists, a stretch reflecting the growing trust placed in him as both a scorer and secondary creator.

That trust was tested again in Tuesday’s 118–112 loss to the Detroit Pistons, a game where Atlanta was without multiple starters but still mounted a late comeback led in part by Alexander-Walker’s shot creation. Despite shooting 1-for-9 from three, he finished with 24

Alexander-Walker said his offseason was centered entirely around preparing for a bigger role — one he expected and one he embraced long before the season tipped off.

“I built my whole summer around being ready for these moments,” Alexander-Walker said. “Talking to Shai about controlling big moments helped me lock in for games like this.”

Atlanta leaned on him heavily in the fourth quarter, where he hit a three-pointer, converted a three-point play and scored at the rim to help cut a 19-point deficit down to a single possession. While some of those efforts came up short in the final minutes, Alexander-Walker saw enough shot quality to feel comfortable with the looks he took.

“I thought five of them were clean looks we can live with,” Alexander-Walker said. “If a couple fall, it’s a different game. Sometimes it’s just an off night from outside.”

Hawks coach Quin Snyder agreed, noting that the process behind Alexander-Walker’s decisions continues to improve regardless of shooting variance.

“He’s making better reads, getting into the paint and either finishing or spraying it out,” Snyder said. “He’s embraced playing within a style where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”

Alexander-Walker’s ability to adapt — both to multiple roles and the rhythm of games — has also led to quicker comfort within the offense than players often find early in new environments.

“At 15 games in, you should know where you fit,” Alexander-Walker said. “The film work, the communication — it’s helped. We’ve been in every game despite injuries, so I like the trajectory.”

Beyond his own scoring, Alexander-Walker has become a steadying force defensively. Against Detroit, he spent long stretches chasing Cade Cunningham, who still finished with 25 points and 10 assists but needed 23 shots to do it. Alexander-Walker said the priority was to disrupt Cunningham’s comfort as much as possible.

“You just try to make him uncomfortable,” Alexander-Walker said. “He’s going to have the ball and make plays. Dyson and our team defense made him work for those 25.”

Atlanta’s roster remains incomplete, with Trae Young, Kritaps Porziņģis and Zaccharie Risacher sidelined. That has pushed Alexander-Walker into heavier usage and more responsibility, including crunch-time possessions.

If his recent stretch is any indication, the Hawks will benefit from testing his limits now — long before they return to full strength.