1. Overview
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Nickeil Alexander-Walkernɪˈkiːl ˌælɪɡˈzændərˈwɔːkərEnglish; born September 2, 1998) is a Canadian professional basketball player who currently plays as a shooting guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 77 in (196 cm) tall and weighing 205 lb (93 kg), with a wingspan of 81 in (207 cm), Alexander-Walker played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies before being selected 17th overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2019 NBA draft. His draft rights were subsequently traded, leading him to begin his NBA career with the New Orleans Pelicans. He is noted for his versatile defensive skills and his ability to contribute as a three-point shooter, particularly in crucial playoff moments. He has also achieved success representing the Canadian national team in international competitions.
2. Amateur Career
Nickeil Alexander-Walker's basketball journey began in high school, where he honed his skills and played alongside his cousin, before moving on to a notable collegiate career at Virginia Tech.
2.1. High School Career
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Alexander-Walker attended multiple high schools, including Vaughan Secondary School, Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School, St. Louis Christian Academy, and Hamilton Heights Christian Academy. At Hamilton Heights, he was a teammate of his cousin, fellow NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The two shared a close relationship and resided together at their coach Zach Ferrell's house during this period. He was recognized as a top prospect in the class of 2017, ranking No. 74 according to Scout.com.
2.2. College Career
In May 2016, Alexander-Walker committed to Virginia Tech, choosing the program over offers from other prominent universities like USC and Maryland. As a freshman for the Hokies during the 2017-18 season, he averaged 10.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. In just his second collegiate game, he achieved a season-high of 29 points in a dominant 132-93 victory against The Citadel. He played a key role in leading Virginia Tech to a 21-12 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In their first-round loss to Alabama, Alexander-Walker contributed 15 points.
During his sophomore year (2018-19 season), Alexander-Walker's performance saw significant improvement, as he averaged 16.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game throughout the regular season. His contributions were instrumental in Virginia Tech's successful season, which concluded with a 24-8 overall record and a 12-6 record within the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team secured a 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before being eliminated. For his outstanding performance, he was recognized with a selection to the All-ACC Third Team in 2019.
3. Professional Career
Nickeil Alexander-Walker embarked on his professional basketball career in 2019, navigating through multiple team transitions across the NBA.
3.1. New Orleans Pelicans (2019-2022)
On June 20, 2019, Nickeil Alexander-Walker was selected as the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Brooklyn Nets. However, his draft rights were immediately part of a series of trades. On July 6, 2019, he was first traded to the Atlanta Hawks along with Allen Crabbe and draft considerations, in exchange for Taurean Prince. Immediately thereafter, his rights were traded again to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans officially signed Alexander-Walker the following day, marking the start of his NBA career.
He made his NBA debut on October 22, 2019, coming off the bench in a 130-122 overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors. In this debut, he recorded 3 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. On November 16, 2019, Alexander-Walker achieved a then-career high of 27 points, along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists, in a 109-94 loss against the Miami Heat. In February 2020, he was assigned to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League to gain more playing experience. In his first G League game on February 27, 2020, he contributed 23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in a 125-124 victory over the Long Island Nets. On January 13, 2021, while starting for the Pelicans, he scored a new career-high of 37 points against the Los Angeles Clippers.
3.2. Utah Jazz (2022-2023)
On February 8, 2022, Nickeil Alexander-Walker's tenure with the Pelicans concluded when he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. This trade, which also involved Josh Hart, Tomáš Satoranský, Didi Louzada, and multiple draft picks, was made in exchange for CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., and Tony Snell. Just one day later, Alexander-Walker was traded for a second time, this time as part of a three-team deal that sent him to the Utah Jazz. His time with the Jazz was brief, but he continued to contribute to the team before his next move.
3.3. Minnesota Timberwolves (2023-present)
On February 9, 2023, Alexander-Walker was traded for the third time in his NBA career, moving to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This transaction was part of a complex three-team trade involving the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers. In the deal, Alexander-Walker and Mike Conley Jr. were sent to Minnesota. The Jazz received Damian Jones, Russell Westbrook, and Juan Toscano-Anderson, while the Lakers acquired Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, and D'Angelo Russell. Alexander-Walker quickly adapted to his new team, and on July 10, 2023, he was re-signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves, solidifying his place with the organization and continuing his contributions.
4. National Team Career
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been a prominent member of the Canadian national basketball team, representing his country in various international competitions and contributing significantly to their successes.
In 2016, he competed for Canada at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship, where he played a crucial role in leading the team to a silver medal finish. He was the leading scorer in the tournament, averaging 17.4 points per game.
He also participated in the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Victoria, British Columbia. In this tournament, he appeared in three games, playing an average of 26.7 minutes per game, and recorded averages of 16.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals.
On May 24, 2022, Alexander-Walker made a three-year commitment to play with the Canadian senior men's national team, highlighting his dedication to the program. He was part of the Canadian team that secured a bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, a significant achievement for Canadian basketball. His continued commitment to the national team was further recognized when he was named to Canada's roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
5. Awards and Achievements
Throughout his amateur and professional career, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has earned several notable individual and team accolades:
- All-ACC Third Team (2019)
- FIBA World Cup - Bronze medal (2023)
- FIBA U18 Americas Championship - Silver medal (2016)
6. Career Statistics
The following tables detail Nickeil Alexander-Walker's performance statistics throughout his professional and college basketball careers.
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
6.1. NBA
Detailed statistical data from his career in the National Basketball Association.
6.1.1. Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | New Orleans Pelicans | 47 | 1 | 12.6 | .368 | .346 | .676 | 1.8 | 1.9 | .4 | .2 | 5.7 |
| 2020-21 | New Orleans Pelicans | 46 | 13 | 21.9 | .419 | .347 | .727 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 11.0 |
| 2021-22 | New Orleans Pelicans | 50 | 19 | 26.3 | .375 | .311 | .722 | 3.3 | 2.8 | .8 | .4 | 12.8 |
| Utah Jazz | 15 | 2 | 9.9 | .333 | .303 | .917 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.1 | .3 | 3.5 | |
| 2022-23 | Utah Jazz | 36 | 3 | 14.7 | .488 | .402 | .692 | 1.6 | 2.1 | .7 | .4 | 6.3 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 23 | 0 | 15.5 | .384 | .361 | .619 | 1.8 | 1.4 | .3 | .3 | 5.9 | |
| 2023-24 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 82 | 20 | 23.4 | .439 | .391 | .800 | 2.0 | 2.5 | .8 | 0.5 | 8.0 |
| Career | 299 | 58 | 19.6 | .407 | .354 | .730 | 2.3 | 2.2 | .7 | .4 | 8.3 | |
6.1.2. Play-in tournament
Statistical performance from his appearances in the NBA Play-in Tournament.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2 | 1 | 30.3 | .600 | .375 | 1.000 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 11.5 |
| Career | 2 | 1 | 30.3 | .600 | .375 | 1.000 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 11.5 | |
6.1.3. Playoffs
Statistics compiled from his NBA Playoff games, reflecting his performance in postseason competition.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Utah Jazz | 1 | 0 | 4.7 | 1.000 | --- | 1.000 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 5.0 |
| 2023 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 5 | 4 | 29.6 | .429 | .400 | .667 | 2.0 | 1.4 | .6 | .2 | 8.4 |
| 2024 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 16 | 1 | 23.6 | .366 | .296 | 1.000 | 1.8 | 2.3 | .6 | .4 | 7.3 |
| Career | 22 | 5 | 24.1 | .389 | .321 | .929 | 1.8 | 2.0 | .6 | .4 | 7.4 | |
6.2. College
Statistical data from his college basketball career, including per-game averages and efficiency metrics.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | Virginia Tech | 33 | 33 | 25.4 | .449 | .392 | .730 | 3.8 | 1.5 | .8 | 0.5 | 10.7 |
| 2018-19 | Virginia Tech | 34 | 34 | 34.3 | .474 | .374 | .778 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 16.2 |
| Career | 67 | 67 | 29.9 | .464 | .383 | .763 | 4.0 | 2.7 | 1.4 | .5 | 13.5 | |
7. Personal Life
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has several notable connections within the athletic world, primarily through his family. His cousin, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, also plays in the NBA, currently for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nickeil's mother, Nicole, is the sister of Shai's father, Vaughn. Another of Nickeil's cousins, Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander (Shai's younger brother), also played college basketball for the Evansville Purple Aces and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Beyond basketball, Alexander-Walker is the nephew of Charmaine Gilgeous, a notable sprinter. Both his mother, Nicole, and his aunt, Charmaine, attended Blessed Mother Teresa High School, located in the Malvern community of Scarborough. During his early life, Alexander-Walker also attended Crestview Public School in Toronto, Ontario.