🇨🇦 Nickeil Alexander-Walker: Canada’s Emerging NBA Gem

While much of the Canadian basketball media’s attention goes to Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is approaching his first NBA season by being resilient, adaptable and heartfelt.

At this time, Alexander-Walker is with the Minnesota Timberwolves and is seen as a top defender for them.

🏀 From Toronto to the NBA

As the cousin of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and someone born in Toronto, Ontario, Nickeil has always dedicated himself to basketball with talent and effort. He trained at Virginia Tech and his all-round abilities saw him chosen in the 2019 NBA Draft. Chosen 17th in the draft by the Brooklyn Nets, he’s now spent time with New Orleans, Utah and Minnesota.

Read more on NBA Draft history at NBA.com

🔒 Defensive Grit and Versatility

What makes Alexander-Walker unique is how hard he works on defense. Last season, when he wore the Timberwolves jersey, he was key in driving the team toward the playoffs by taking on difficult defenders and stepping in as a playmaker.

As ESPN reports, Nickeil has “embraced his role as a perimeter stopper,” becoming one of the more underrated ‘3-and-D’ guards in the league.

🔥 A Key Contributor for Team Canada

Nickeil excels in the NBA, but he’s also shone for Team Canada. Olynyk was key to Canada’s third-place finish at the FIBA Basketball World Cup by playing well on defense and offense.

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💪 Future Outlook

Because of what he can do and the confidence he has gained, Nickeil has the means to succeed in the NBA for a while. Working on his skills will only mean that he brings more value to the team, wherever he is used.

His play may be understated, yet Alexander-Walker makes us see that grinder skills and adaptiveness are outstanding strengths in basketball.

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