Nickeil Alexander-Walker wins 2025-2026 NBA Most Improved Player Award

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-hawks/xAO4gBas/"]Atlanta Hawks[/a] became the first team in NBA history to have a player win the award in back-to-back years ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/daniels-dyson/r5pENvXa/"]Dyson Daniels[/a], 2024-2025). [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alexander-walker-nickeil/UX4LnqkP/"]Alexander-Walker[/a] received 66 of the first-place votes, followed by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duren-jalen/xva6ve5b/"]Jalen Duren[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Detroit Pistons[/a]) with 23, then the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portland-trail-blazers/4Awl14c5/"]Portland Trail Blazers[/a]' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/avdija-deni/8MEeJXFF/"]Deni Avdija[/a] with seven. [/p][embed guid="3487f349-aecb-4dff-b4a4-43f643ce1beb" url="https://x.com/NBAPR/status/2047812105466683862?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]It was almost a no-brainer for the award after Alexander-Walker went from 9.4 points per game last season to 20.8 points per game this season. [/p][p]His free-throw percentage went from 78% last season to 90% this season, while also shooting a career-best 46% from the floor. [/p][p]The seven-year vet had never finished a season averaging more than 11.0 points per game until this year when he almost doubled that. [/p][p]He had 10 games with at least 30 points this past season, with a career-high 41 points against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-magic/QZMS36Dn/"]Orlando Magic[/a] on March 16th.[/p][embed guid="db348e3b-857b-4bad-ba54-0284d047d055" url="https://x.com/NBAPR/status/2047807985708159016?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Atlanta Hawks are currently up 2-1 in their playoff series against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-knicks/WCNO4nbt/"]New York Knicks[/a]. [/p][p]Game 4 between the two is scheduled for April 25th at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time.[/p]