Atlanta leans on ‘aggressive’ Nikhil Alexander Walker in the middle of the game

As Quin Snyder’s rookie Atlanta Hawks are on the move the post-Trae Young era and jockeying for position in the NBA Eastern Conference, Nickeil Alexander-Walker appeared as an unexpected offensive catalyst. The former Virginia Tech standout also revamped his career story. No longer just a rotation piece, Alexander-Walker is putting up eye-popping numbers that would make even the most optimistic front-office executives believe.

The 27-year-old guard is no longer a complementary piece lurking on the sidelines. NAV is the primary option, the best scorer, and increasingly, one of the most compelling breakout stories of the NBA season. Averaging career highlights of 19.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals, Alexander-Walker is in line for some NBA MVP votes.

Snyder saw the jump coming, but it all started with the confidence that he would make the right decision regardless of who was getting the extra attention.

“Playmaking wise, you know (Alexander-Walker) can get into the lane,” Snyder said. “He’s not your typical playmaker, but I think he’s unselfish and ready to take the ball off when he’s guarded.”

Alexander-Walker is also shooting 37.2% from three-point range on 8.2 attempts per game. That’s almost double the volume with almost the same efficiency despite the increase in other responsibilities. Hawks GM Bryson Graham, who was with the New Orleans Pelicans when Alexander-Walker was drafted, was betting that all the extra shooting work would eventually pay off somewhere.

“I think we saw it so early in (Alexander-Walker’s) career,” Snyder noted, “and now you can tell where it’s coming from. That’s the person he was, the competitor he was. I think in Minnesota he really established himself as a defender and a knockdown three-point shooter, we’re encouraging him especially in the corner three-point shooting. Even some contested threes, I think his confidence drives him.”

That aggression is exactly what the Hawks need as they navigate the treacherous waters of the Play-In race. With each game with higher stakes, Snyder has found a reliable scoring option that can stretch defenses to the breaking point.

However, what makes Alexander-Walker particularly valuable in Snyder’s system is his unconventional approach to play. He’s not a traditional ball-dominant point guard, but NAV creates offense in ways that keep defenses off balance. Jaylen Johnson appreciates someone else stepping up to lighten offensive loads.

As for Nikhil Alexander-Walker’s late-20s trajectory? Well, he arrived in the NBA with a defined skill set, worked to expand it, and now finds himself in a system that actively encourages him to do more. The Hawks relied on what Alexander-Walker does best and then pushed him further. Shoot the struggling trio. Go downhill. Trust yourself. It’s the perfect home for his best years.

And by almost every measure, he answered. Whether that translates into a Play-In berth or perhaps something more will define the rest of this season. But the Alexander-Walker breakthrough has already answered a question that has lingered for years. Given the right environment and the right voice in his ear, what could he become? The answer turned out to be a 20-point scorer on a playoff team.