Nickeil Alexander-Walker was taken by surprise when he was traded to Minnesota with veteran Mike Conley at the 2023 trade deadline, leaving him uncertain about his future in the NBA.
In an interview with Chris Hine of The Star-Tribune, Alexander-Walker revealed that he felt “lost” and had little clarity on the direction of his career at the time.
At the time, he had just been traded twice within 18 hours, leaving him questioning if his time in the league was running out.
“Traded twice in 18 hours, not knowing what my reality of my career was gonna be,” the shooting guard reflected.
“Especially going into year four, I truly believed this could be my last year, going into my contract year, haven’t really had the opportunity to show what I could do.”
Despite those doubts, Alexander-Walker has since found a role within the Timberwolves’ rotation, proving his value to the team.
What initially seemed like a career setback has turned into a chance for growth, as he’s now established a regular role and shown his skills more consistently.
Alexander-Walker has played 6 seasons for the Timberwolves, Jazz, and Pelicans. He has averaged 8.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 376 regular-season games.
Wolves Notes: Ownership Battle, Gobert, Alexander-Walker, DiVincenzo https://t.co/5O0AjAKXgh pic.twitter.com/y9gDQGAY9E
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 4, 2025
