Young Atlanta Hawks bring out the best in Toronto native Nickeil Alexander-Walker

TORONTO – Nickeil Alexander-Walker is putting together the best season of his seven-year NBA career piece-by-piece.

Alexander-Walker is averaging career highs in every significant stat category this season including points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks for the Atlanta Hawks. The 27-year-old from Toronto said after Saturday’s 134-117 loss to the Raptors that he has learned how to do all the behind-the-scenes stuff well.

“Little, small deeds, over time become big when you add them all up,” said Alexander-Walker, who joined the Hawks in the off-season. “I think for me, I’ve gotten really good at putting the small pieces together.

“From my circle, the guys that helped me out this summer, trainers, to guys on the team being so welcoming to me, allowing me to step into this role, and cheering me on to the organization, to the team, the city.”

Alexander-Walker was selected 17th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 NBA Draft but his rights were traded to Atlanta two weeks later. They were then immediately sent to the New Orleans Pelicans who signed him to his first professional contract.

He played a little over two seasons in New Orleans before being dealt to the Utah Jazz and then again to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Alexander-Walker signed a four-year, US$62 million contract on July 6, 2025 in a sign-and-trade with the Hawks that sent a 2027 second-round pick and cash considerations to Minnesota. He said that part of his success in Atlanta has been thanks to the warm reception he’s gotten since that most recent deal.

“It’s really more than me going out there and putting up numbers, or even just working hard,” said Alexander-Walker, who had 31 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals on Saturday against Toronto. “I’m a hard critic on myself, and (Hawks coaches and players) allow me to make mistakes and say ‘keep being aggressive.’

“That means the world to me and it allows me to be myself.”

Alexander-Walker entered Saturday’s contest averaging 20.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 0.6 blocks per game, all career highs. His one steal per game matches the number he had for New Orleans in the 2020-21 season, also a career high.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder, who also briefly coached Alexander-Walker on the Jazz, said that he’s impressed by how the six-foot-five guard continues to grow as a player.

“It’s not just his numbers, which we can all see,” said Snyder in his pre-game news conference. “You don’t have to be with a player for a long time to get a feel for who they are and what they can do. 

“Since the time we were in Utah together, I’ve watched him a lot and seen how he’s evolved defensively, shooting the ball.”

At an average age of 23.79 years, Atlanta was the third youngest team in the NBA to start this season, with Brooklyn (23.36) and the Washington Wizards (23.78) slightly more youthful. Snyder said that Alexander-Walker’s influence — especially with four-time all-star Trae Young missing long stretches of the season — has been invaluable.

“One of the biggest things he’s given us is a voice both on and off the court,” said Snyder. “Just a level of professionalism that he brings, a work ethic, all those quote-unquote intangibles that I think make him a special player.

“I think he’s really a person that you’d want to play with to teach you and help you grow.”

The Hawks and Raptors will play again on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 4, 2026.