Kingston Flemings gave the Hawks a little of everything in Atlanta’s 123-116 preseason win over the San Antonio Spurs, and that’s exactly the kind of start that makes a rookie stand out.
The first thing that jumps off the page is the stat line: 15 points, five assists and three steals, with Flemings hitting 50% from beyond the arc. But the numbers only tell part of the story. What Atlanta saw in San Antonio was a young guard starting to look more at home against NBA competition.
That matters because the Hawks already had a pretty good idea of what Flemings could do on the defensive end. He showed that in Atlanta’s preseason opener against Memphis, when his pressure on ball handlers and quickness stood out. Against the Spurs, he built on that foundation by showing more than just disruptive defense.
Flemings played with more offensive freedom this time around. He attacked the basket with confidence, moved more smoothly on that end of the floor and looked increasingly comfortable creating for himself and for others.
The five assists were a big part of that impression. They signaled a player who wasn’t just hunting his own shot, but trying to make the right play.
That’s the kind of growth Atlanta is hoping to see. The Hawks didn’t draft Flemings to be one-dimensional. They brought in a young point guard who can eventually influence the game in multiple ways, and the blend of steals, playmaking and efficient scoring on Thursday offered a glimpse of that bigger picture.
Still, there’s no need to get carried away. Preseason is preseason, and one strong night doesn’t lock anything in.
Atlanta also wasn’t seeing San Antonio at full strength throughout the game. But every pro on the floor gives you a chance to learn something, and Flemings made the most of his.
For Quin Snyder, that kind of progress is useful. He has to juggle development with the need to keep a competitive rotation intact, and the more Flemings shows he can defend, make decisions and contribute offensively, the easier it becomes to trust him with real minutes.
He still has a long way to go before he can call himself a steady rotation piece. Even so, performances like this one help build momentum, and they give the Hawks another reason to stay patient with him. Atlanta drafted him for more than defense, and Thursday’s win was a reminder of why he looked worth the investment.
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Hawks Preseason Opener Vs Pacers Could Reveal A Lot Fast
The Hawks preseason opener against the Pacers arrives with more intrigue than your typical October tune-up, especially with both teams still looking to sort out where they stand in the East. Atlanta has added a new defensive piece in Lu Dort, and this game may offer the first look at how he fits into the mix, while the broader backdrop is a matchup between clubs that expect the regular season to matter.
Kingston Flemings is another reason to watch closely after flashing in San Antonio, where the rookie posted a strong all-around preseason line. Player availability on both sides is still unsettled, so the actual rotation could look different by tipoff, but that uncertainty is part of what makes this opener worth keeping an eye on - it may tell us more than the final score does. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Stuck With Their New Identity Even When It Looked Rough Early
The Hawks got a useful early look at what this new version of the roster is supposed to be in a preseason win over the Spurs, and it was not always pretty. Atlanta came out flat from the perimeter, but the group kept its poise long enough to steady itself and turn the game around before the night was over.
CJ McCollum was part of the mix as the Hawks found better rhythm, and the energy shifted once the second quarter opened things up. Asa Newell, Corey Kispert and Kingston Flemings all had a hand in the swing, giving Atlanta the kind of balanced push it will be looking for when shots are not falling cleanly at the start. [Read more 🡒]
Dream Just Raised The Standard For What Hawks Fans Expect
Atlanta sports has a new benchmark now, and it came from across the womens side of the city. The Dreams run to the 2026 WNBA Finals has put a spotlight on how far a defense-first blueprint can go when it is built with purpose, especially after the roster addition of Angel Reese, the leagues 2026 Defensive Player of the Year. For Hawks fans, it is hard not to notice the parallel: the Dream have shown what a clear identity can look like when it is supported by the right personnel.
That matters because the Hawks have spent the offseason pushing in a similar direction, trying to become tougher and more disruptive on that end of the floor. The comparison does not mean the outcomes will match, but it does raise the bar for what a successful reset can look like in Atlanta. If the Hawks are serious about joining the citys teams in that conversation, the next step is not just adding defense-minded pieces, but proving they can turn the plan into something just as unmistakable as the Dreams. [Read more 🡒]