In theory, there isn't much of a debate to be had when asking who the Atlanta Hawks should start at point guard. Trae Young is a four-time All-Star and the reigning NBA assists leader who has taken the Hawks to the Conference Finals, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker isn't actually a point guard by a traditional definition.
As the Hawks continue to evolve with Young out of the lineup, however, Alexander-Walker's balance of size, defense, and scoring has created an unexpected positional battle.
Young has done enough over time with the Hawks that most rationally expect him to start again once he returns from his current knee injury. He's the arguable face of the franchise and one of the most productive point guards in NBA history.
Alexander-Walker, however, is averaging 20.4 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 0.9 blocks, and 2.8 three-point field goals made on .466/.392/.859 shooting—high-level production in its own right.
With Alexander-Walker in arguable star-caliber form, a question now looms: Should Young really return to the starting lineup when the team is thriving without him? It's not just that Atlanta is winning games, but that its defense has become elite and that the ball is moving more freely on offense.
Alexander-Walker has played a key role in the Hawks' success on both ends of the floor and has thus become a potential lineup replacement despite Young being the more decorated player.
Should Nickeil Alexander-Walker start for the Hawks over Trae Young?
The Hawks have turned to a new-look starting lineup with Young and Kristaps Porzingis battling injuries. It's a group that slants toward a new generation of franchise cornerstones, but the immediate results have been as intriguing as the group's untapped potential.
With a starting lineup of Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and Zaccharie Risacher, the Hawks are playing at an elite level.
The aforementioned starting five have played 278 possessions together through just over a quarter of the 2025-26 season. During that time, they've ranked in the 90th percentile in net rating, the 86th percentile in offensive rating, and the 84th percentile in defensive rating.
Despite not having a traditional point guard on the court, the Hawks' future pillars are proving that they're ready to compete at the highest level starting now.
Daniels and Johnson have stepped up as playmakers to offset Young's absence. Daniels has averaged 6.8 assists to 2.3 turnovers per game since the outing in which Young was injured, while Johnson has checked in at 8.0 assists to 3.6 turnovers during that same timeframe.
Furthermore, the Hawks have ranked No. 1 in the NBA in assists per game since Young's injury—and the evidence keeps mounting that they're thriving without him.
Have the Hawks outgrown Trae Young during his time on the sidelines?
Since Young went down, the Hawks have ranked No. 6 in the NBA in defensive rating. They're also No. 10 in net rating and No. 14 in offensive rating, thus displaying the impressive balance they've struck despite being down two All-Stars for much of that stretch.
Factoring in the game during which Young suffered an injury in the first quarter, Atlanta has compiled a 12-6 record and played like a true factor in the Eastern Conference sans its biggest name.
This isn't to say that Young can't help the Hawks, as he's proven to have what it takes to step up in big games and deliver under the spotlight. The harsh truth, however, is that the Hawks are an elite defensive team when he doesn't play—and while he has improved his effort on defense, he's still a net negative in that regard.
Compounded by the fact that Young plays a ball dominant style, it's fair to question if he still fits with a team that takes such a free-flowing approach to offense.
With a questionable fit on both ends of the floor, Young is no longer the obvious choice for the starting lineup. Alexander-Walker may not match him in production, but he's averaging in excess of 20 points per game and is sustaining his success through the quarter-mark of the regular season—all the while offering size and defensive versatility that Young simply lacks.
A perfect solution may not yet exist, but Alexander-Walker has made it fair to question if Young is still the ideal starting point guard for the Hawks.