Nickeil Alexander-Walker is NBA's Most Improved Player after breakout season with Hawks
Alexander-Walker put up career highs as Atlanta's starting shooting guard this season.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is the NBA’s 2026 Most Improved Player, taking home the honor in his first year with the Atlanta Hawks. Alexander-Walker beat out the Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija for the honor. Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil-Alexander Walker has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Improved Player, earning the George Mikan Trophy.
pic. twitter. com/XUrGlq7Ulu — NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 24, 2026 After time spent on three other NBA teams, Alexander-Walker found his groove with the Hawks as a starting shooting guard, putting up a career season.
He averaged 20. 8 points per game — more than double his scoring from last season — along with 3. 4 rebounds, 3.
7 assists and 1. 3 steals per game. Alexander-Walker, a first-rounder in the 2019 draft, started his career with the New Orleans Pelicans before spending time with the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves.