The Hawks got a big lift from Canada’s latest FIBA World Cup qualifying win, and two of their own were right in the middle of it.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker and new Atlanta acquisition Lu Dort combined for 51 points as Canada knocked off Argentina 97-92 on Monday. The win pushed Canada to 8-0 in the qualifiers, and it also gave the Hawks another glimpse of how well the two guards can work together.
For Dort, the move to Atlanta comes with a built-in comfort level. He already knows Alexander-Walker well from years of shared basketball history, and that relationship made the transition feel a lot smoother the moment he got the news.
“It's amazing. Obviously, Nickeil is one of my closest friends.
Played on the same team with Nickeil in high school and against him our whole life, obviously. When I got the call and I knew I was heading there, I hit him right away.
I was really happy. He's helped me out throughout this whole transition and with their style of play.
I'm glad that I got a guy like him on my team now,” Dort said, via Clemente Almanza of Thunder Wire.
That bond extends beyond Alexander-Walker, too. Dort is also close with Alexander-Walker’s cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP. So when Dort settles into a Hawks group that values defense, he won’t exactly be walking into unfamiliar territory.
He spent his first seven NBA seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and that kind of change is never simple. Still, the fit in Atlanta feels tailor-made, especially given the people already in the room. Of all the possible destinations for Dort, landing with the Hawks looks like a move that should make the adjustment easier.
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Nickeil Alexander-Walker got a reminder of how quickly a game can get away from a team during Canadas offseason matchup with Argentina, and it was the kind of stretch that tested the same poise the Hawks are hoping to lean on. He had a slow start while trying to run the offense, with turnovers piling up as Argentina surged, but the situation also showed the value of a guard who can steady himself when things start to tilt the wrong way.
After Argentinas run, Alexander-Walker helped Canada settle back in with key plays and a more vocal presence from the bench as the team regrouped. For Atlanta, that combination of composure and communication is part of the appeal, especially for a roster that can use another player willing to absorb a rough patch and still keep everyone aligned once the game starts to slip. [Read more 🡒]
Lu Dort Just Gave Hawks Fans Another Reason To Be Excited
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The appeal in Atlanta goes beyond the production, though that matters too. Dort helped Oklahoma City win the 2025 NBA championship and now brings a blend of toughness, defense and leadership to a Hawks roster that can use all three. If his early international form is any indication, Atlanta may not have to wait long to see the edge he can add to the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
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Now his camp is making a bolder argument: that Kuminga was the Hawks best player during his time with the team. It is the kind of claim that is sure to split fans, especially since his run in Atlanta was limited to 16 regular-season games and he was never there long enough to settle the debate in a way everyone would accept. [Read more 🡒]