While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is busy cementing his MVP case, he's already looking ahead to next season's awards—and he has a family favorite in mind. After leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the top seed in the West, SGA took a moment to endorse his cousin, Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, as his pick for the 2025-26 Most Improved Player.

It’s been a remarkable year for both cousins. Gilgeous-Alexander continues to dominate as a 30-point-per-game engine for the league’s best team, while Alexander-Walker has shattered expectations in Atlanta. After signing a four-year, $62 million deal last offseason, the 27-year-old has transformed from a journeyman role player into a cornerstone for the Hawks, averaging a career-high 20.9 points and helping fuel a stunning 15-4 surge since March 1.

“I think what’s most impressive about it is how he’s stuck with it,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the Thunder’s win over the Clippers. “Our paths were so connected until a certain point and then went left and right… To see him have the success he’s having now, it’s amazing.”

Alexander-Walker’s breakout is a classic MIP story: once fighting for his NBA future, he revived his career with a key role in Minnesota’s Western Conference Finals run last season and has now exploded into a go-to option in Atlanta. With numbers leaping from a career average of 8.6 points to over 20 per game, he’s become the overwhelming favorite for this year’s award—and according to his MVP cousin, he’s just getting started.

For hoop fans and athletes alike, it’s a powerful reminder that growth often comes from perseverance. Whether you’re grinding in the gym or stepping onto the court, having the right mindset—and maybe a little family support—can make all the difference.