Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Atlanta Hawks has won the Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award for the 2025-26 season. Alexander-Walker beat out Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers and Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons for the honor.
Alexander-Walker had a high-profile year in Atlanta, averaging 20.8 points with career-highs in shooting and three-point percentage. The seventh-year guard had never averaged more than 11 points per game prior. He played 78 games for the Hawks, averaging 33.4 minutes.
Avdija played 66 games for the Blazers, averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in 33.3 minutes. In the process he was nominated for his first NBA All-Star appearance.
Duren was also nominated as an All-Star, playing 70 games and averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds in 28.2 minutes per game.
