Hawks' Nickeil Alexander-Walker Addresses 'Disrespectful' Narrative About Team's Hot Streak

The Hawks have won 10 straight games, but some have questioned the strength of their opponents during the run.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 5:27am

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Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker spoke out against the 'disrespectful' narrative surrounding the team's 10-game winning streak. Despite beating teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Dallas Mavericks, some have questioned the validity of the Hawks' run due to the perceived weakness of their opponents. However, Alexander-Walker defended the team's accomplishments, noting that 'it's NBA players' and 'NBA teams' regardless of their records. The Hawks recently defeated the Orlando Magic, who were also on a hot streak, further proving their mettle.

Why it matters

The Hawks' hot streak has raised questions about the legitimacy of their success, with some dismissing their wins as coming against 'nobody'. Alexander-Walker's comments highlight the team's frustration with this narrative and their determination to prove the doubters wrong as they continue their push towards the playoffs.

The details

In the Hawks' 124-112 win over the Magic, Alexander-Walker set the tone early, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. The Hawks led by double digits for much of the game, withstanding the Magic's attempts to mount a comeback. Head coach Quin Snyder praised Alexander-Walker's aggressiveness, saying the team has asked a lot of him and that his offensive production has been crucial during the streak.

  • The Hawks' 10-game winning streak began in early March 2026.
  • The Hawks defeated the Magic on March 17, 2026.

The players

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

A guard for the Atlanta Hawks who has been a key contributor during the team's 10-game winning streak.

Quin Snyder

The head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, who has guided the team through their recent hot streak.

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What they’re saying

“'It was a real test against a playoff team,' Nickeil Alexander-Walker said. The talk being around 'We beat nobody.' At the end of the day, it's NBA players. It's NBA teams. I'll never disrespect whoever they put out in front of me. Nonetheless, as a team, with how they were rolling, how they went into Miami, and those being important games for mid-April, we were aware of the situation.”

— Nickeil Alexander-Walker (clutchpoints.com)

“'He knew when he came here, we were going to ask a lot of him on a lot of levels,' Quin Snyder said. 'I think his aggressiveness offensively has been really important.'”

— Quin Snyder, Head Coach (clutchpoints.com)

“'Sometimes you just have nights like this. The focus was truly being aggressive at the right time,' Alexander-Walker said. 'It was an important game, and I knew I just had to come out and give it my all. That was the only thing on my mind. Just be aggressive, be myself, try to help the team win, and it turned out to look like this.'”

— Nickeil Alexander-Walker (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The Hawks will look to continue their winning streak as they face important games in mid-April that could impact their playoff positioning.

The takeaway

The Hawks' 10-game winning streak has drawn criticism from some who question the strength of their opponents, but the team has proven their mettle by defeating a fellow hot streak team in the Orlando Magic. Nickeil Alexander-Walker's comments show the Hawks' determination to silence the doubters and continue building good habits as they push towards the playoffs.