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Preseason performances often come with a caveat, but the Atlanta Hawks have reason to be optimistic about rookie guard Kingston Flemings. After a steady debut in which he started in place of CJ McCollum, Flemings elevated his game in the team's second exhibition contest.
In his first start on Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies, Flemings managed 11 points and played solid defense, though he didn't create many shots or generate turnovers. However, Thursday night against the San Antonio Spurs, one of the NBA's elite teams, he emerged as the game's standout. Flemings poured in 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, while dishing out five assists and recording three steals. His plus-8 rating underscored his impact as a catalyst for the Hawks' second-half comeback.
Flemings credited the team's aggressive approach against the Spurs' stout defense. "Obviously, they got a great defensive team," he said. "Just trying to be aggressive, get out of their positions. When they have a set defense, they're really hard to score on. Quinn was telling us to get out and run, and when we went on a run, that's what happened. We were getting rebounds, we were pushing. So, trying to follow what Quinn said and had success."
Reflecting on his preseason development, Flemings acknowledged the mental adjustments required. "For me, I think a lot on the court, and a lot of times I almost overthink it," he explained. "Like last game, I had a lot of off-off screens I was getting hit on because I'm just ball-watching too much. So it's kind of just slowing my mind down to almost make me play a little better. When my mind's moving fast and I'm processing everything at the same time, that's when I struggle. So kind of slowing it down and kicking it, like one game, one play at a time, that definitely helped me a lot."
Key Analysis
Entering training camp, the Hawks' guard depth was a question mark. The team waived Devin Carter and Ryan Nembhard, thrusting Flemings into a position where he needed to step up as the backup point guard. Through two preseason games, he has answered the call. While not flawless, Flemings has played sound basketball and appeared comfortable, showing that the NBA stage isn't too big for him. The Hawks envision him as their future franchise point guard, but for now, they'll gladly accept performances like Thursday's.
Jackson Caudell has been a publisher at the On SI network for four years and has extensive knowledge covering college athletics and the NBA. Jackson is also the co-host of the Bleav in Georgia Tech podcast, and he loves to bring thoughtful analysis and comprehensive coverage to everything that he does. Find him on X @jacksoncaudell Follow jacksoncaudell.