Nickeil Alexander-Walker Reflects on His Most Improved Season
Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s first season with Atlanta brought a major breakthrough: 71 regular-season starts, a career-high 20.8 points per game and the NBA’s 2026 Most Improved Player award.
In the SLAM 262 feature, the Toronto-area guard reflects on the uneven early stages of his career, lessons learned through changing roles and the opportunity he found with the Hawks. A disappointing playoff series against New York sharpened his focus on further improvement, with winning and mastering his game remaining his priorities.
Summary of the original SLAM article. Original reporting: DeMarco Williams.
Photo from the original SLAM 262 feature.
