The Atlanta Hawks didn’t leave Summer League with a win, but they may have left with a clear early read on Kingston Flemings.
Atlanta fell 103-102 in overtime to the Utah Jazz in its opener, yet the No. 8 overall pick made sure the debut felt meaningful. Flemings finished with 14 points, nine assists and four steals, filling up the box score while showing the kind of control the Hawks were expecting when they took him in the top 10.
The most encouraging part wasn’t just the production. It was the way he ran the offense.
Flemings looked composed from the start, rarely trying to do too much and instead leaning into the reads that kept Atlanta moving. That showed up in the assist total, but it also showed up in the way he handled the flow of the game.
His speed was a real problem for Utah. Flemings kept pushing the ball in transition before the defense could get organized, creating easy looks near the rim and giving Atlanta a faster gear. That downhill burst is a big part of his game, and it was on display right away.
He also flashed a little bit of everything as a scorer. Flemings went 2-of-5 from three-point range, found his midrange jumper, and kept attacking the basket. That pressure helped send him to the free-throw line often, another sign that he can create offense in more than one way.
There were other bright spots for Atlanta, too. Asa Newell looked comfortable in his second season, and Zuby Ejiofor contributed across the board while making his presence felt throughout the game. Still, Flemings was the headline.
His work on defense added another layer to the debut. The four steals reflected active hands, quickness and a willingness to disrupt plays. He’s still going to have to adjust as he gets used to the NBA level, but the tools are obvious.
That’s the kind of profile Quin Snyder can work with. Flemings can play with pace, create advantages off the dribble, set up teammates and use his athleticism to bother opponents on the other end.
One Summer League game doesn’t tell the whole story, and there will be bumps ahead. But for a first look, this was about as encouraging as Atlanta could have hoped for. Flemings looked like a point guard who can make his mark in a lot of different ways, and he wasted no time showing why the Hawks were comfortable making him the No. 8 pick.
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Hawks May Be Watching One Last Impact Move Slip Away
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