Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been overwhelmingly inefficient during the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Through three games, he's shooting just 13-of-41 from the field and has yet to convert better than 35.3 percent of his total attempts during a single outing.
For as alarming as that may be, Alexander-Walker's inefficiency is actually limited to a specific issue—and thus shouldn't completely overshadow his timely shooting.
Alexander-Walker struggled mightily as a shooter during the first two games of the Hawks' first-round series against the Knicks. He scored 17 points in Game 1, but shot 6-of-17 from the field and converted just three of his nine two-point field goal attempts.
The cold streak continued into Game 2, when Alexander-Walker posted nine points on 3-of-12 shooting, including a 1-of-7 mark from within the arc.
For as alarming as that all was, there was always a silver lining that critics seemed ready to overlook. He'd shot 3-of-8 from beyond the arc in Game 1 and went 2-of-5 in Game 2. In each outing, he not only found his spots from three-point range, but converted with efficiency.
The question entering Game 3 was thus clear: Which level of efficiency would prove sustainable? The answer was as simple as it was complex: Both.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker can't sink a 2, but is shooting 40% from 3
Alexander-Walker shot 4-of-12 from the field, which continued an alarming trend of inefficient performances. He finished with 14 points, however, due in no small part to the fact that he went 3-of-7 from three-point range.
Alexander-Walker is now shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc on 20 three-point field goal attempts through the first three games of this series.
For perspective on how valuable Alexander-Walker's three-point shooting has been, Atlanta's other players shot 7-of-25 from distance in Game 2. They shot an improved 10-of-26 in Game 3, but it was again Alexander-Walker who led the team in three-point field goals made.
Considering both of those games were decided by a single point, it'd be foolish to downplay the impact of what Alexander-Walker has brought to the table.
Clearly, Alexander-Walker needs to figure out what's gone wrong within the arc if he and the Hawks are going to live up to their potential. Jalen Brunson is shooting just 5-of-14 when Alexander-Walker is the primary defender, however, which reveals a fundamental truth.
Yes, Alexander-Walker's two-point shooting has been underwhelming, but almost every other facet of his game has proven to be a strength.
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