Kingston Flemings got a taste of the spotlight on Wednesday night, and now he gets an even bigger stage.
Atlanta’s recent top-ten pick made his first career start against the Washington Wizards and helped the Hawks grab a much-needed win. On Friday, the same matchup comes right back around, only this time it shifts to State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
That gives Flemings a chance to follow up one statement with another, and the challenge is a familiar one: Trae Young. The matchup puts the rookie across from one of the most accomplished Hawks in franchise history, a past-versus-present showdown that gives Atlanta fans a clear look at where the team has been and where it may be headed.
If Flemings can help Atlanta beat Washington again, it would mean consecutive wins over a division rival the Hawks may be seeing plenty of this season. Both teams are trying to carve out space in a crowded Eastern Conference, and taking two straight from a team in the same division would be a strong early boost for Atlanta.
It is still early, but that does not make the results any less important. Every win matters, and every rep matters even more for a young guard being asked to carry real responsibility right away.
Flemings has already stepped into a role that looks a lot different from the path most rookies take. Selected eighth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, he landed in Atlanta with a team that expected to compete immediately. That is not the usual setup for a first-year player, especially one who is just 19 years old and already in the starting group.
Young’s own start in Atlanta came with a heavy load, too. He did not open his rookie season in the starting lineup, but he was in the lead role just nine games into the year. Both guards were handed major responsibility early, just in different ways.
That is part of what makes Friday interesting. Young will always be remembered in Atlanta, but Flemings has a chance to keep pushing the new era forward by doing something that would resonate right away: beating the franchise legend twice in a row to open the season.
For now, the rookie has shown the kind of poise that fits the moment. He has looked calm and mature beyond his years, and Friday gives him another chance to prove it again.
In Other News...
Hawks Frontcourt Faces Another Test With One Key Status Still Unclear
Jalen Johnsons status remains one of the bigger questions hanging over Atlantas frontcourt as the Hawks get ready to face the Wizards. Johnson is listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain and has already missed the last two games, leaving Quin Snyder to keep sorting through a rotation that is already thin with several other Hawks expected to sit because of injuries.
Asa Newell is also on the report, along with Jock Landale, Keshon Gilbert, Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar, which only adds to the challenge of piecing together enough size and depth for the matchup. Snyder has pointed to Zuby Ejiofors recent play as a bright spot, praising the way he fits into Atlantas defensive identity, but the bigger issue for the Hawks is how much they can ask of that front line if Johnson is not available again. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Frontcourt Just Took Another Hit Fans Wont Like
The Hawks frontcourt depth took another hit with Asa Newell sidelined after suffering a left great toe hyperextension. Atlanta said he will be reevaluated in about two weeks, though the recovery could stretch beyond that point, adding another layer of uncertainty to a roster already dealing with multiple injuries.
Keshon Gilbert also remains out after undergoing a non-surgical procedure for left knee inflammation, and he is due to be reevaluated in roughly six weeks. With several Hawks still on the shelf, the injury list is starting to shape the teams day-to-day options in a way that could force more lineup shuffling than anyone in Atlanta would like. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Draft Outlook Already Fuels A Real Roster Debate
The Hawks are already in the familiar spot of weighing fit against upside as the draft picture comes into focus, and the names on the board hint at the kind of roster debate that tends to follow Atlanta this time of year. Hugo Yimga-Moukouri, Dylan Mingo and Braylon Mullins all bring different skill sets, and each would ask something a little different of the Hawks system and long-term plans.
Atlantas draft position should only sharpen the conversation, since the team is set to receive the less favorable pick between New Orleans and Milwaukee and is likely to land in the lottery range. For a club trying to balance immediate help with future flexibility, the question is less about whether there will be options and more about which direction best fits the roster the Hawks are trying to build. [Read more 🡒]