Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the Most Improved Player for the 2025-26 season, the NBA announced on Friday.
With Alexander-Walker being this season’s Most Improved Player, the Hawks become the first team since the award’s inception to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons. Hawks guard Dyson Daniels won the award last season.
“Nickeil’s dedication, continual work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award,” said Hawks Head Coach Quin Snyder in a statement. “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.”
Alexander-Walker, 27, averaged career highs in points per game (20.8), rebounds per game (3.4), assists per game (3.7) and steals per game (1.31), while tallying career highs in field goal percentage (.459%), three-point field goal percentage (.399%) and free throw percentage (.902%) this past season. He appeared in 78 games, making 71 starts, with the Hawks owning a 42-29 record in games in which he started.
The Virginia Tech product and native of Canada increased his scoring by 11.4 points from the 2024-25 season (9.4 ppg) to the 2025-26 campaign (20.8 ppg). Per Elias Sports, his +11.4 points per game increase is the third-highest amongst all qualified players from one season to the next over the past 25 years, trailing only teammate CJ McCollum (+13.99, 2014-15 to 2015-16) and Zach Randolph (+11.63, 2002-03 to 2003-04).
He netted 10-or-more points in a career-best 76 games during the 2025-26 season, the most in a single season in his career, the most by an Eastern Conference player this past season, and third-most amongst all players in the league, trailing only Kevin Durant (78) and Julius Randle (77). The 6-5 guard’s .902 FT% ranked fourth in the NBA this past season and fifth in a single season in franchise history. He attempted a career-best 8.1 three-pointers per game, owning the highest three-point field goal percentage amongst all players who attempted at least 8.0 triples per game.
The seventh-year guard ranked third in the NBA in offensive fouls drawn (64) and forced 166 turnovers (steals + offensive fouls drawn), the third-most in the league.
Alexander-Walker and Hawks, who lead the Knicks 2-1 in the first round series, host New York in Game 4 on Saturday night.
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