No player in the NBA this season has shown a transformation quite like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, yet he finds himself surprisingly absent from the conversation for the Most Improved Player (MIP) award. It raises a question that might seem simple at first glance: if no player has improved more than Alexander-Walker, why isn’t he the favorite to claim the honor?
The NBA’s Most Improved Player award has a certain reputation. It is often seen as a recognition of rising stars, those on the verge of becoming household names. Historically, voters tend to gravitate toward players whose growth signals future stardom rather than purely evaluating the statistical leaps they’ve made. This creates a subtle bias where improvement is often measured not just in terms of numbers, but also in perceived ceiling and potential. And this is where Alexander-Walker, despite a season that could be described as nothing short of remarkable, finds himself somewhat undervalued.
Alexander-Walker, at 27 years old and entering his seventh NBA season, is demonstrating improvements that many would consider unprecedented for a player at this stage of his career. While some voters may question whether a player in his late twenties can suddenly “break out,” the data this season paints a compelling picture. Alexander-Walker is on pace to set career-highs across virtually every statistical category: points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, and made three-pointers per game. He is tying his career-best shooting efficiency from the field, is only 0.5 percent shy of his top three-point percentage, and is exceeding his previous best at the free throw line by an astonishing 9.6 percent. These numbers suggest not just incremental growth, but a significant, multi-dimensional transformation of his game.
Despite this, betting odds from Bet MGM currently list Alexander-Walker as only the fifth-most likely candidate to win Most Improved Player. Ahead of him are Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, Ryan Rollins, and Keyonte George. Each of these players has undoubtedly had strong campaigns and deserve recognition. Johnson, for example, has seen notable jumps of 4.1 points and 3.1 assists per game compared to his already impressive 2024–25 season. However, none of these players are experiencing the kind of dramatic, almost unprecedented leap that Alexander-Walker has achieved as a seventh-year player. The scale of his improvement, especially considering his age and career stage, is unmatched.
Looking more closely at his statistics, Alexander-Walker’s offensive production is remarkable. He is currently averaging 20.3 points in 33.3 minutes per game—a drastic increase from the 9.4 points he averaged in 25.3 minutes last season. In essence, he has more than doubled his scoring output while also playing significantly more minutes. This growth is not just superficial; it holds up even when adjusted for playing time. On a per-36-minute basis, Alexander-Walker is putting up 22.0 points per game, compared to 13.4 last season and 12.3 in 2023–24. These figures underscore that his improvement is not merely a result of added minutes but a genuine enhancement in efficiency, consistency, and overall impact on the court.
Another important context is Alexander-Walker’s transition into a starting role. In the 2025–26 season, he has started 58 games—more than he started in his previous four seasons combined. Over his first six seasons, Alexander-Walker had started only 68 games and appeared in 381 contests. This season, he has assumed a significant role on a team that is currently six games above .500, a level of team success that was absent for much of his career. Stepping into a leading role on a team with winning aspirations magnifies the impact of his improvement, as he is not merely padding stats on a rebuilding roster but contributing meaningfully to a competitive team.
Alexander-Walker’s transformation extends beyond numbers. He has shifted from a career bench player to a dependable starter on a Hawks squad that is currently 37–31 and on track to secure its first above-.500 season in four years. This kind of impact—helping a team sustain competitive performance without its franchise star for a large portion of the season—is a testament to his adaptability and growth. The Hawks managed to play 29 of their first 39 games without Trae Young, and Alexander-Walker not only filled the void but thrived, continuing to produce efficiently after Young was traded to the Washington Wizards. Such resilience and ability to elevate one’s team under challenging circumstances is exactly the kind of story that should weigh heavily in MIP considerations.
The other leading candidates for Most Improved Player are mostly younger players, typically in their early twenties. Duren, Rollins, and George are all 24 or younger, and Johnson is the only other candidate with more than four seasons of NBA experience. Naturally, younger players tend to improve as they gain experience and adjust to the league. Alexander-Walker’s improvement, on the other hand, is less expected precisely because it comes at a stage when many players have already settled into defined roles. The fact that he is making such dramatic leaps in his seventh season is what makes his case so compelling.
Alexander-Walker’s progress is multidimensional. While scoring is the most visible metric, he has also improved across rebounding, assists, and defensive contributions. His all-around game has become more reliable, consistent, and versatile. He’s no longer a player whose production is sporadic or reliant on limited minutes; he is a core part of the rotation, handling a heavier workload while maintaining efficiency and impact.
It is worth emphasizing just how improbable this transformation is. NBA careers are notoriously difficult to navigate, and players who do not break out early often settle into long-term secondary roles. Alexander-Walker, however, has rewritten that narrative. The sheer scale of his development—statistically, mentally, and in terms of team responsibility—makes him the epitome of “most improved” in a literal sense. This is not a case of minor progression or natural growth; it is a rare, career-defining leap that defies expectations.
Despite this, current perceptions and betting odds suggest Alexander-Walker may be overlooked when award season comes around. The focus of voters often skews toward youth and potential rather than dramatic current-season improvement. Players who are younger, have more upside, or have been hyped as rising stars may capture the imagination more easily than a player like Alexander-Walker, whose improvement is rooted in perseverance, opportunity, and execution over time. But from a purely merit-based perspective—considering year-over-year statistical jumps, expanded role, team impact, and improbability—Alexander-Walker’s campaign is arguably unmatched.
The Most Improved Player award is meant to celebrate transformation, not just promise. Alexander-Walker embodies that principle. He is the seventh-year guard who has gone from a rotational contributor to a starting-caliber player, producing career highs in nearly every category and elevating his team’s overall competitiveness. He has faced adversity, adjusted to new responsibilities, and made improvements that were unforeseeable just a season ago. These are precisely the hallmarks of the kind of player the MIP award should recognize.
Yet, as it stands, he is on pace to be snubbed. Betting lines and preseason narratives suggest that younger players with incremental growth may overshadow him, despite the fact that no one else has made such an audacious leap. This speaks to a broader trend in how awards are often perceived versus how they might be quantified. Dramatic improvement, especially when unexpected and achieved under challenging circumstances, should be celebrated more visibly. Alexander-Walker’s campaign represents not just statistical improvement but the triumph of resilience, adaptability, and hard work—qualities that are at the core of what the MIP award seeks to honor.
In sum, while the conversation around the Most Improved Player this season includes several worthy candidates, Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s case is unparalleled. His jump from a modest reserve role to a central contributor, his career-best performances across nearly every statistical category, and his ability to thrive in a winning environment without the presence of his team’s star player mark him as the definitive example of improvement. The odds may not favor him, and narratives may skew toward younger players, but from a purely objective standpoint, no player has improved more dramatically this season than Alexander-Walker.
If the goal of the Most Improved Player award is to recognize transformation, the kind that reshapes a player’s career trajectory, Alexander-Walker’s season should serve as the gold standard. For a 27-year-old entering his seventh season to make such an improbable leap—defying expectations, embracing a massive role, and contributing significantly to a winning team—is a story worthy of recognition. Should he be overlooked, it would be a disservice not only to him but also to the principle of the award itself, which is meant to celebrate players who have truly evolved in a way that shifts the perception of their career.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s 2025–26 season is a testament to perseverance, growth, and impact. Whether voters acknowledge it or not, the numbers and the narrative speak for themselves. In a league obsessed with potential and youth, his breakthrough serves as a reminder that improvement is not solely the province of the young—it can happen at any stage, given opportunity, determination, and execution. For those paying close attention, Alexander-Walker’s leap is impossible to ignore. It is not just an improvement; it is a transformation, one that should define the Most Improved Player discussion this season and perhaps beyond.
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