Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard, is related to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s point guard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They are cousins.
They played at Hamilton Heights and shared a room at Coach Zach Ferrell’s house. Later, the cousins went their separate ways while choosing their preferred universities.
Despite offers from USC and Maryland, Nickeil committed to Virginia Tech in May 2016. Afterward, the Brooklyn Nets selected him in the 2019 NBA draft.
His draft rights were traded to the Atlanta Hawks, followed by an immediate trade to the New Orleans Pelicans. He was assigned to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League.
On February 8, 2022, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired him but traded him to the Utah Jazz again. Similarly, he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves and re-signed his contract on July 10, 2023.
Meanwhile, Shai initially committed to Florida but announced his decision to play college basketball at Kentucky. He declared for the 2018 NBA draft on April 9, 2018.
The Charlotte Hornets selected him in the 2018 NBA draft but traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers, who then traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 10, 2019.
Shai was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 2 on October 31, 2022, and named to his first-ever NBA All-Star Game as a reserve guard for the Western Conference in February 2023.
Moreover, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player of the 2024–25 season, making him the second Canadian player to win the award after Steve Nash.
Shared a room. Ate all meals, did everything together. There’s probably nothing about Nickeil that Shai doesn’t know and there’s nothing about Shai that Nickeil doesn’t know.
Coach Zach Ferrell
Nickeil Alexander-Walker And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Are Canadian Cousins
Family ties often run deep in basketball, but few relationships are as special as the one between Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
They are cousins by blood but share a bond more like brothers. Their connection, forged through years of competition, mentorship, and unwavering support, has shaped their careers.
The two NBA stars’ close relationship stems from their tight-knit family.
Nickeil’s mother, Nicole Alexander, is the sister of Shai’s father, Vaughn Alexander. Thus, Vaughn is Nickeil’s uncle, while Nicole is Shai’s aunt.
Nickeil grew up in Toronto and Shai in Hamilton, about 40 miles apart along Lake Ontario, but distance never kept them apart. They spent weekends and summers together, practicing, playing, and pushing each other to improve.
Their shared love for basketball turned into fierce competition. Vaughn Alexander coached both, instilling discipline and a relentless work ethic.
That rivalry made them sharpen their skills, but their chemistry was undeniable when they played on the same team. Instead of battling each other, they focused on elevating their game together.
I was more excited for him because that’s a big-time place to go that put him in the right position to do what we dreamed about since we were kids. I knew with my decision, I’d do the same thing. I was nothing but happy (for Shai), nothing but cheerful. Never once thought about why wasn’t I being recruited (by Kentucky) because I knew things are going to happen for a reason. And time would tell.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Nickeil Alexander-Walker And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Family Lineage
Nickeil Alexander-Walker was born on September 2, 1998, in Toronto, Ontario, to Nicole Alexander and Nicholas Walker.
His father is of Jamaican descent, and his mother is of Antiguan heritage. Their roles in his life have been vastly different.
Nickeil’s mother has been his constant support system. She is a single mother who worked tirelessly to provide for her son while fostering his love for basketball.
Nicole was the driving force behind the athlete. She instilled a relentless work ethic in him and ensured he had every opportunity to succeed.
Moreover, Nickeil never shied away from giving his mother credit for his mental toughness and discipline. He highlights that her sacrifices and belief in him shaped his career.
In contrast, Nicholas Walker remained largely out of the public eye, and Nickeil rarely spoke about their relationship.
While Nicholas’ absence could have left a void, Nickeil found guidance through his uncle, Vaughn Alexander.
On the other hand, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander owes much of his success to the strong athletic foundation his parents laid.
His parents, Vaughn Alexander and Charmaine Gilgeous, have deep ties to athletics and surrounded him with sports excellence from an early age.
Charmaine is a former track and field athlete representing Antigua and Barbuda in the women’s 400 meters at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Her discipline and competitive spirit undoubtedly influenced Shai’s work ethic and mental toughness on the court. After retiring, she transitioned into a career in banking.
Similarly, Vaughn Alexander was a standout high school basketball player in Toronto. In the early 1990s, he led Georges Vanier Secondary School to a city championship.
Later, he became one of Shai’s first coaches, instilling in him the fundamentals of the game and fostering his love for basketball.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were born 52 days apart.
- They won the silver medal for Canada at the 2016 FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship.
- They were named to Canada’s roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
