After months of grueling inconsistency, the Minnesota Timberwolves are beginning to look like the team that reached the 2024 Western Conference Finals. Minnesota has won 13 of its past 16 games, thus improving from 32-29 to 45-32.
The stars have understandably been the center of attention as far as praise for the team's success is concerned, but unsung hero Nickeil Alexander-Walker deserves immeasurable praise.
Alexander-Walker has been one of the most valuable reserves on the Timberwolves since he joined the team in 2022-23. He's unexpectedly developed into a strong defensive presence, all the while realizing elements of the offensive potential that made him a first-round draft pick in 2019.
Perhaps no feat has been more significant, however, than the fact that Alexander-Walker has appeared in all 158 regular season games that Minnesota has played over the past two seasons.
That's never been more valuable to Minnesota than during their recent turnaround, when Alexander-Walker has operated as the proverbial glue guy. He's helped create a symbiotic relationship between a starting lineup in flux and a second unit that's been called on for stability.
The result has been Minnesota evolving from a team that was flirting with .500 to a squad with a legitimate chance to avoid the Play-In Tournament altogether.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker proving why he's Minnesota's glue
Alexander-Walker has been in fine form in 2025, posting averages of 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.1 three-point field goals made in 29.0 minutes over the team's past 31 games. Those are more than commendable numbers even without additional context.
Beyond the overall averages is a player who has stepped up in crucial places with his best performances of the season thus far.
Alexander-Walker has posted each of his five 20-point games this season during the Timberwolves' past 30 outings. Not only has he stepped up, but there's a direct correlation between those eruptions and team success, as Minnesota has gone 5-0 during those showings.
That includes the recent double-overtime win over the Denver Nuggets, during which Alexander-Walker tallied 26 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks.
Furthermore, the Timberwolves are outscoring opponents by an unfathomable 13.6 points per 100 possessions over the past 15 games. Of the players with whom they've posted a better net rating during that time, only Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid have played more minutes than Alexander-Walker.
The most promising reason to believe that success will be sustained on some level: This has effectively been par for the course in 2024-25.
The Timberwolves have compiled a net rating of plus-6.3 with Alexander-Walker on the court this season—the second-highest mark on the team behind Reid. At a time when uncertainty has defined the Julius Randle saga, Alexander-Walker has been a constant.
Other players may post gaudier statistics on a nightly basis, but Minnesota has come to learn that Alexander-Walker steps up whenever he's needed.