ATLANTA (AP) Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the NBA's Most Improved Player for 2026, outpacing finalists Deni Avdija and Jalen Duren. This accolade marks a significant achievement for the Atlanta Hawks, as Alexander-Walker becomes the second player from the team to win the award in consecutive years, following Dyson Daniels’ triumph last season.
During the 2026 season, Alexander-Walker delivered the best statistical performance of his career, averaging a remarkable 20.8 points per game, more than doubling his prior averages over six professional seasons. His shooting efficiency also saw notable improvement, as he achieved a career-best shooting percentage of 46%. In addition to scoring, he also set new personal records in assists (3.7), rebounds (3.4), and steals (1.3) per game.
A substantial increase in playing time contributed to his enhanced statistics, as he logged 2,603 minutes during the season, which is 530 more than his previous career high. His impressive performance included hitting 251 three-pointers, making 277 free throws, and maintaining a shooting percentage of 40% from beyond the arc and 90% from the free-throw line.
Alexander-Walker, who is in the first year of a four-year, $62 million contract with the Hawks, began the season as a sixth man. However, he quickly secured a spot in Atlanta's starting lineup due to Trae Young's knee injury. His position as a reliable starter was solidified following a January trade that sent Young to Washington, bringing CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert to the Hawks.
Adding to the significance of his award, Alexander-Walker is related to Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and a finalist for MVP honors this season. In an emotional statement, Alexander-Walker acknowledged the influence of his support system, saying, "I’m glad I love this game so much. I don’t know where I’d be without it. Glad that I had people who believed in me when I didn’t. When they say it takes a village, I used every single person in mine."
Dyson Daniels, who won the Most Improved Player award the previous season and led the league in steals, praised the Hawks' player development system, stating, "I think Atlanta has a really good development pathway. Guys come in here, get their work in, and Coach Quin Snyder is really good at giving guys opportunities to play free and be themselves." This sentiment underscores the growth and potential within the Hawks organization.
This announcement adds to the NBA's list of awards to be recognized since the conclusion of the regular season. Among the notable winners are San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, who became the youngest and the first player to unanimously win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Gilgeous-Alexander came close to being the first unanimous recipient of the Clutch Player of the Year award, garnering 96 out of 100 first-place votes. Additionally, Keldon Johnson of San Antonio was awarded the Sixth Man of the Year, with 63 first-place votes, while Boston's Derrick White won the Sportsmanship Award, narrowly defeating Indiana's T.J. McConnell.
Upcoming award announcements include the MVP award, with finalists being Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama, and Denver's Nikola Jokic; the Coach of the Year award, featuring Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio's Mitch Johnson, and Boston's Joe Mazzulla; and the Rookie of the Year award with contestants VJ Edgecombe of Philadelphia, Cooper Flagg of Dallas, and Kon Knueppel of Charlotte.
