The Atlanta Hawks got their season back on track Wednesday night against the Brooklyn Nets, where they won 117-112. After a horrific start, the Hawks took the lead and never relinquished it.
The first week of the season has been peculiar. After an offseason filled with national hype, Atlanta has not entirely lived up to expectations, at least not yet. They have shown glimpses as to what they could be at full strength, but the group as a whole has yet to display true cohesion.
The early season adjustment period was inevitable. Atlanta made a variety of moves this offseason to improve their squad, but it came at a cost. They lost several rotation players. While these moves were absolutely for the better, it would take time for it all to gel.
This has been the case for most of Atlanta's roster, except one particular player. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, one of Atlanta's biggest offseason acquisitions, has been stellar on both ends of the floor to begin the season.
His play has not resembled what was expected out of him. When Atlanta brought him in via sign-and-trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, they were expecting a low-usage but effective offensive weapon who excels on the defensive end, particularly against guards.
He has certainly lived up to his defensive expectations, and then some. If he was a negative on the offensive end, one could argue that he would still positively impact Atlanta's win total in a major way. He has been that good.
The most notable development, however, is that he has taken his offensive game to another level. While still providing the Hawks with everything that made him special as a player in previous years, his game has reached new heights in just five games with the organization.
NAW's numbers through five games have been elite, but they don't paint the full picture
Through the first week of the 2025-26 regular season, Alexander-Walker is averaging 16.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game on improving efficiency.
Those numbers are great, considering he has come off the bench in three of Atlanta's five games so far this season. His shooting splits have not been spectacular, but they can be understood with a closer look at how he has been generating his offense.
His shot volume through the first week of the season has been out of this world. He is attempting a career-high 14.2 field goals per game, while leading the team in three-point attempts per game (7.0).
Neither Atlanta nor Alexander-Walker braced for him to start the season with this kind of role. With durability comes increased responsibility, and the coaching staff has leaned on NAW to deliver. Five games into the season, he has delivered in a major way, giving Atlanta a much-needed boost on both ends of the floor.