Nickeil Alexander-Walker proved he is the better option for Atlanta right now. He scored 26 points on Wednesday night to lead the Hawks to a 120-105 win over the Washington Wizards, according to the Alexandria Brief. This victory came against former star Trae Young, who finished with 18 points for the opponent. Alexander-Walker hit six 3-pointers in that game after tying his career high with nine shots in a previous win at Indiana. The 28-year-old Canadian guard is delivering when it counts.
Cameron Boozer brings a different set of skills to the table. The 19-year-old American forward averages 18.6 efficiency in his eight career games. He averages 9.8 rebounds per game and has logged 513 minutes total. Boozer also averages 16.5 points and 5.4 assists for his career. He shows flashes of potential but lacks the consistent scoring punch of Alexander-Walker. The rookie is just 19 years old and still developing his game. His 49.1 percent shooting on 2-pointers shows he can finish near the rim.
Experience Beats Potential
The Hawks need wins now rather than just future promise. Alexander-Walker has played 513 games in his career and knows how to handle the pressure. He tied his career high with nine 3-pointers in a recent win at Indiana. Boozer has only played eight games and his stats are just starting to take shape. He averages 0.8 blocks and 0.4 steals per game.
Alexander-Walker was born on September 2, 1998, while Boozer arrived on July 18, 2007. That nine-year gap changes how each player contributes to the lineup. The veteran guard can step in and score without hesitation. The rookie forward needs more time to adjust to the speed of the NBA. Alexander-Walker’s 81.1 percent free throw shooting shows he can be trusted in clutch moments. Boozer has shot 94.4 percent from the line but in a much smaller sample size.
The Rebounding Gap
Boozer does offer a massive advantage on the glass. He grabs 8.4 defensive rebounds and 1.4 offensive rebounds per game. This totals 9.8 rebounds which is a huge number for a young forward. Alexander-Walker does not match this rebounding output as a guard. The Hawks need to decide if they value immediate scoring or long-term size. The team played the Wizards on Wednesday night and secured a solid victory. Wednesday’s solid victory over the Wizards added another win for the current roster.
Both players have different roles that fit different stages of a rebuild. Alexander-Walker provides the steady hand needed to close out games. Boozer offers the athletic upside that could dominate in a few years. The final score on Wednesday was 120-105. Trae Young finished with 18 points in his return to Atlanta. Anthony Davis and AJ Dybantsa led the Wizards to a 103-94 win over the Magic earlier in the week.
On Wednesday night, the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Washington Wizards 120-105, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker leading the way with 26 points.
