Kingston Flemings didn’t need a hot shooting night to leave his mark Saturday.
In Atlanta’s 105-98 NBA Summer League win over the Indiana Pacers, the Hawks rookie showed he can tilt a game with defense, rebounding and ball movement even when the jumper isn’t cooperating. The former Houston standout finished with nine points on 4-of-11 shooting, plus seven defensive rebounds, five assists and several key deflections.
That kind of all-around line is exactly what made Flemings such an appealing guard in the 2026 NBA Draft, and it was on display in Las Vegas. The No. 8 overall pick spent much of the night bothering Indiana’s offense, cutting off passing lanes, getting hands on loose balls and flashing the point-of-attack defense that defined his college tape at Houston.
His activity level stood out from the start. Flemings consistently made life difficult for the Pacers with his defensive instincts and competitiveness, two traits scouts had already singled out during the pre-draft process. Against NBA-level competition, those strengths have already started to translate.
He also handled the game with a steady hand on offense. Instead of pressing to force shots through a rough scoring night, Flemings kept the ball moving and helped the Hawks stay organized, finishing with five assists. That poise as a facilitator has been one of the themes of his Summer League run, along with his maturity and feel for the game.
Even with his shot off, Flemings found ways to matter. He rebounded, defended and created opportunities for others, giving Atlanta another encouraging look at a player who can contribute without needing the ball in his hands every possession.
For the Hawks, that’s the appeal. If his offensive consistency catches up to the rest of his game, Flemings could become a versatile two-way guard who makes an impact early in his NBA career.
In Other News...
Ranking The Hawks Moves That Could Define This Front Office
The Hawks spent the offseason trying to thread a tricky needle: get better now without losing sight of what comes next. That meant swinging big for Aaron Wiggins from Oklahoma City at the cost of two first-round picks, then turning around and adding three rookies with the No. 8, No. 23 and No. 57 selections while also keeping familiar veterans around on one-year deals to stabilize the rotation.
There is a clear logic to the mix, even if the front office is still waiting to see how it all fits together. CJ McCollum gives Atlanta another proven shot creator, Jock Landale adds insurance behind Onyeka Okongwu, and Mouhamed Gueyes option keeps a developmental piece in place, but the move that may say the most about where the Hawks are headed is the one for Devin Carter, a former lottery pick whose defensive upside could make him another useful layer in the bench picture. [Read more 🡒]
What The Hawks Really Preserved In The Jock Landale Deal
The Hawks move for Jock Landale came with more than just a new big man on the roster. As part of the broader contract picture around the deal, Landale, Jordan Clarkson and Charles Bassey all agreed to waive the implicit no-trade protection in their contracts, a small but meaningful detail that gives teams more flexibility down the road. For Atlanta, that kind of cleanup matters almost as much as the player acquisition itself, especially when every roster move has to be weighed against future cap maneuvering.
Landales agreement also fits into a wider league-wide run of contract housekeeping, with details emerging on players such as Trey Lyles, Jaylen Clark, Marcus Smart, Norman Powell, Ousmane Dieng, Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie and Jusuf Nurkic. One of the more interesting side notes for the Hawks is how little room the deal leaves in their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is the sort of constraint that can shape the rest of a teams offseason just as much as the headline move. [Read more 🡒]
Mouhamed Gueye Suddenly Faces A Real Hawks Rotation Threat
Mouhamed Gueye has given the Hawks something to like on the defensive end, where his length and activity have helped him carve out a place on the roster conversation. Atlanta also recently picked up his one-year team option, a sign that the organization still sees value in keeping him around, even as the bigger question remains whether his game can grow enough on the other side of the floor to make him more than a situational piece.
Now the pressure is coming from a different direction, with rookies Zuby Ejiofor and Henri Veesaar turning heads in summer league and adding more bodies to a frontcourt mix that is starting to feel crowded. For Gueye, the path forward is pretty clear: keep defending, cut down the mistakes, and show enough offensive progress to stay ahead of the newcomers, because if that part of his game stalls, Atlanta may start looking at its options sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]