TORONTO – Nickeil Alexander-Walker is placing collectively the perfect season of his seven-year NBA profession piece-by-piece.
Alexander-Walker is averaging profession highs in each important stat class this season together with factors, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks for the Atlanta Hawks. The 27-year-old from Toronto mentioned after Saturday’s 134-117 loss to the Raptors that he has discovered how you can do all of the behind-the-scenes stuff nicely.
“Little, small deeds, over time grow to be massive while you add all of them up,” mentioned Alexander-Walker, who joined the Hawks within the low season. “I feel for me, I’ve gotten actually good at placing the small items collectively.
“From my circle, the blokes that helped me out this summer season, trainers, to guys on the group being so welcoming to me, permitting me to step into this function, and cheering me on to the group, to the group, town.”
Alexander-Walker was chosen seventeenth total by the Brooklyn Nets within the 2019 NBA Draft however his rights had been traded to Atlanta two weeks later. They had been then instantly despatched to the New Orleans Pelicans who signed him to his first skilled contract.
Associated Movies
He performed slightly over two seasons in New Orleans earlier than being dealt to the Utah Jazz after which once more to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Get each day Nationwide information
Get the day’s prime information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
Alexander-Walker signed a four-year, US$62 million contract on July 6, 2025 in a sign-and-trade with the Hawks that despatched a 2027 second-round decide and money concerns to Minnesota. He mentioned that a part of his success in Atlanta has been due to the nice and cozy reception he’s gotten since that the majority latest deal.
“It’s actually greater than me going on the market and placing up numbers, and even simply working exhausting,” mentioned Alexander-Walker, who had 31 factors, 4 rebounds, three assists and two steals on Saturday towards Toronto. “I’m a tough critic on myself, and (Hawks coaches and gamers) permit me to make errors and say ‘hold being aggressive.’
“Meaning the world to me and it permits me to be myself.”
Alexander-Walker entered Saturday’s contest averaging 20.4 factors, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 0.6 blocks per sport, all profession highs. His one steal per sport matches the quantity he had for New Orleans within the 2020-21 season, additionally a profession excessive.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder, who additionally briefly coached Alexander-Walker on the Jazz, mentioned that he’s impressed by how the six-foot-five guard continues to develop as a participant.
“It’s not simply his numbers, which we will all see,” mentioned Snyder in his pre-game information convention. “You don’t must be with a participant for a very long time to get a really feel for who they’re and what they will do.
“For the reason that time we had been in Utah collectively, I’ve watched him so much and seen how he’s advanced defensively, capturing the ball.”
At a median age of 23.79 years, Atlanta was the third youngest group within the NBA to begin this season, with Brooklyn (23.36) and the Washington Wizards (23.78) barely younger. Snyder mentioned that Alexander-Walker’s affect — particularly with four-time all-star Trae Younger lacking lengthy stretches of the season — has been invaluable.
“One of many largest issues he’s given us is a voice each on and off the courtroom,” mentioned Snyder. “Only a degree of professionalism that he brings, a piece ethic, all these quote-unquote intangibles that I feel make him a particular participant.
“I feel he’s actually an individual that you simply’d need to play with to show you and enable you develop.”
The Hawks and Raptors will play once more on Monday evening at Scotiabank Enviornment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 4, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
