The Atlanta Hawks didn’t need a press release to make it official - the locker room has already spoken. In a recent team video where players were asked to name their emergency contact, one name kept popping up: Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Five players - CJ McCollum, Onyeka Okongwu, Keaton Wallace, Dyson Daniels, and AJ Newell - pointed to Alexander-Walker as the guy they’d trust most in a pinch. And when you’re talking about who you’d call in an emergency, that says a lot more than just basketball. It speaks to leadership, presence, and trust.
Even among a group of pros who’ve seen a lot, Alexander-Walker has clearly become the steadying force in the room. Keaton Wallace, who also earned a couple of nods, was mentioned by both Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson, but there’s no mistaking who the team’s emotional center is right now.
The “Veteran” This Team Needed
When Atlanta signed Alexander-Walker to a four-year, $60 million deal, it was seen as a savvy move - not flashy, but smart. In a free-agent market where money was tight across the league, the Hawks capitalized. They brought in a player who had carved out a strong role as a sixth man for a Minnesota team that made back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances.
At the time, Alexander-Walker was known as a reliable 3-and-D wing - the kind of guy who could space the floor and guard multiple positions. He wasn’t someone you gave the ball to and asked to create, but he didn’t need to be. On a team with Trae Young and Jalen Johnson, his role was to complement, not dominate.
But this season, something shifted. Alexander-Walker started showing flashes of something more.
He’s been more aggressive with the ball in his hands, creating off the dribble and taking on more responsibility as a scorer. While he’s not yet a consistent go-to option, the potential is there - and it’s turning heads.
He’s not just thriving in his role - he’s expanding it. And that’s what makes this signing feel like a home run. It was already viewed as one of the best value deals of the offseason, but with Alexander-Walker’s growth and leadership, it’s starting to feel like the kind of move that can reshape a franchise.
A Steady Hand with a Story to Tell
What makes Alexander-Walker’s rise even more compelling is the path he’s taken to get here. He’s been through the wringer in the NBA.
His early years in New Orleans were a struggle - part of a Pelicans team that couldn’t seem to get out of its own way. Then came a brief stint in Utah, followed by a move to Minnesota, where he finally found some stability and playoff success.
That range of experience - from the bottom of the league to the pressure of deep playoff runs - has shaped him into a player who understands the value of culture, consistency, and professionalism.
He’s the guy who’s always got a smile on his face, but when he talks, it’s thoughtful. He pauses to consider his words, a reflection of someone who’s been through enough to know that leadership isn’t about volume - it’s about presence.
The Power of Chemistry
And while Alexander-Walker is earning the spotlight, the Hawks are also seeing the benefits of strong chemistry elsewhere on the roster. Mo Gueye and Zaccharie Risacher, for example, both named each other as their emergency contact. Gueye affectionately called Risacher his “little boy,” while the French rookie returned the favor with a more diplomatic “little brother.”
That bond is translating on the court, too. The duo boasts an impressive net rating when sharing the floor - a testament to how friendship and trust can show up in the box score. As Knicks fans like to say, “the power of friendship” is real - and in Atlanta, it’s starting to look like a foundational piece of the team’s identity.
Bottom Line
Nickeil Alexander-Walker might not have arrived in Atlanta with the title of “leader,” but he’s earned it the right way - through trust, consistency, and a game that keeps evolving. For a Hawks team looking to turn the corner, he’s not just a great signing - he’s becoming the heartbeat.