Hawks fans won’t have to wait too much longer to see their favorite team in action, and the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers have fans excited more than ever. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Lu Dort led Team Canada in scoring on Monday night, combining for 51 points.
It was certainly promising given the role both Canadians will play this season, but can they replicate this during the NBA season?
Can Dort rediscover his consistency?
Starting with the Hawks’ biggest acquisition of the offseason, Lu Dort. One of the reasons the Oklahoma City Thunder were fine with trading him was his struggle from three last season.
He shot 41% from beyond the arc during OKC’s championship run in 2025, but dipped to 34.4% during the 2025-26 season (69 games). It should be noted that Dort had 41 more three-point attempts in only two more games played (71) during the 2024-25 season.
It’s safe to say he’ll definitely get his fair share of attempts in Quin Snyder’s system. The Hawks ranked 9th in 3PA last year, and their volume will only increase with additions like Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and rookie Henri Veesaar. Lu will have the most attempts out of all three as the Hawks sixth-man.
Another reason for his impending three-point redemption is the Hawks’ brand of basketball. Jalen Johnson and the crew led the league in team assists without Trae Young, at that. Dort is guaranteed more opportunities on Atlanta’s bench than in OKC’s starting lineup, so there’s no reason why he can’t return to his sharpshooting ways.
Can NAW take his game to another level, again?
Nickeil Alexander-Walker helped the Hawks make NBA history last season as the first team to have a rostered player earn Most Improved Player in consecutive seasons. Many pundits expected Alexander-Walker to have a massive impact on Atlanta with his defense alone, but no one expected an 11.4-point increase.
His performance last season raises a major question: Can he advance his game even further?
It’s only natural for him to rise to an All-Star level after seeing averages of 20.8 points in 78 games for a 46-36 Hawks team. Now that they're expected to make the postseason, Nickeil can be seen as the official co-star alongside Jalen Johnson.
The two-way combo guard has proven to be consistent, and a positive team record will give him the spotlight needed to gain All-Star votes.
After watching his 25-point performance in FIBA, it’s clear he was hard at work this season, and at 27-years old, Alexander-Walker is approaching his prime years. If he showcases even more improvement, Hawks fans could see two players represent their city in Phoenix, Arizona, for 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend.
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