Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named as the NBA’s Most Improved Player for the 2025-26 season.
Alexander-Walker had a career year, starting in 71 of the 78 games he played in this season. The 27-year-old guard averaged 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game – all personal career highs. Walker also set the Hawks record for most 3-pointers in a season, draining 251 in the 2025-26 season while shooting 39.9% from 3-point range.
Alexander-Walker was traded to Atlanta on July 6, 2025 after spending two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Hawks have become the first team to have back-to-back Most Improved Award winners. Guard Dyson Daniels won the award as a member of the Hawks last season.
Alexander-Walker and the Hawks are currently playing in the postseason, leading the New York Knicks 2-1 in an Eastern Conference first-round series.
Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (7) shoots against the New York Knicks in the third quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 23, 2026.
Previous Most Improved Player winners
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2025: Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
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2009: Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
2025-26 NBA Awards winners
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta Hawks’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker voted NBA Most Improved Player
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