Overview
- Alexander-Walker, selected by a 100-member media panel on Friday, received 66 first-place votes and 396 points, with Detroit’s Jalen Duren second and Portland’s Deni Avdija third.
- He posted career highs in his first Hawks season with 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals on 45.9% shooting, 39.9% from three and 90.2% at the line in 78 games.
- His scoring rose by 11.4 points per game from last season, which Elias Sports says ranks as the third-largest qualified year-over-year jump in the past 25 seasons.
- He signed via a summer deal from Minnesota, moved into a starting role after Trae Young’s injury and subsequent trade, and helped Atlanta finish 46-36 and take a 2-1 lead over the Knicks in the first round.
- The award makes Atlanta the first franchise with consecutive Most Improved winners after Dyson Daniels last season, and Alexander-Walker joins a short list of players to win it in their seventh NBA season or later.