Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the NBA’s 2025-26 Kia Most Improved Player, becoming the second consecutive Atlanta Hawks player to win the award. The honor follows Dyson Daniels’ recognition the previous season, marking the first time in franchise history the Hawks have had back-to-back winners of the accolade.
Alexander-Walker received 66 first-place votes from a 100-person media panel, totaling 396 points in the voting process. He edged out finalists Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers, who garnered seven first-place votes, and Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons, who received 23 first-place votes and 254 total points. Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins and Hawks teammate Jalen Johnson likewise received first-place votes in the balloting.
The award recognizes Alexander-Walker’s breakout season, during which he averaged career-highs of 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 45.9% from the field and 39.9% from three-point range, while making 90% of his free throws. His scoring output represented more than double his average from his first six NBA seasons.
Alexander-Walker’s increased production came alongside a significant rise in playing time, as he logged 2,603 minutes this season—530 more than his previous career best. He earned those minutes through consistent performance, including 251 made three-pointers, which set a new Atlanta Hawks single-season record, and 277 made free throws.
Having joined the Hawks via a sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2025, Alexander-Walker began the season as a sixth man before transitioning into the starting lineup early in the year. His starting role was solidified after the Hawks traded longtime point guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards in January in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
At 27 years classic, Alexander-Walker is in his seventh NBA season. He was originally selected 17th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 NBA Draft, with his draft rights later acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans. Before arriving in Atlanta, he spent time with the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, and Minnesota Timberwolves, where he developed a reputation as a strong defender.
The Hawks’ success this season has been fueled by their young core, with Alexander-Walker playing a pivotal role in their surprising playoff push. Atlanta currently leads the New York Knicks 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series, showcasing the impact of their roster overhaul following the Young trade.
Winning the Most Improved Player award places Alexander-Walker in elite company, as he becomes just the fifth player in the last 35 seasons to achieve a year-over-year increase of 11 or more points per game. The honor comes with the George Mikan Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s most improved player.
For the Hawks, the back-to-back awards underscore the effectiveness of their player development strategy. Alan Henderson remains the only other player in franchise history to have won the Most Improved Player award, doing so during the 1997-98 season.
As the playoffs progress, Alexander-Walker will seem to maintain his elevated level of play. His continued growth will be vital to Atlanta’s hopes of advancing deeper into the postseason and establishing themselves as a rising force in the Eastern Conference.
Stay tuned to World Today Journal for ongoing coverage of the NBA playoffs and updates on Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the Atlanta Hawks as they pursue their championship aspirations.
Worth a look