The Atlanta Hawks didn’t leave preseason opener night with a win, falling 132-123 to the Memphis Grizzlies, but the scoreboard wasn’t the point. The real value came in the individual evaluations, and Kingston Flemings made a strong first impression with the kind of defensive edge that can get a rookie noticed fast.
Flemings arrived in the NBA with a reputation as a solid on-ball defender, and he backed that up right away against NBA competition. He stayed attached to ball handlers, picked up full court and used his speed to make life difficult for opposing guards. He wasn’t just moving his feet - he was applying real pressure.
That kind of work can open a door for him sooner than expected.
Atlanta does not need Flemings to walk in and immediately solve things as a scorer. The Hawks already have established offensive options, which gives Quin Snyder room to bring along the rookie point guard without asking him to shoulder much of the offense early. That matters, because defense gives Flemings another lane to earn trust.
One possession against veteran guard Ty Jerome showed exactly why. Flemings’ pressure helped force a turnover, and it was the kind of play that says he’s willing to take on older, more experienced players without backing off. For a young guard, that’s not a small thing.
It also fits what Atlanta spent the offseason trying to build. The Hawks emphasized physicality and defense, and a rookie who is willing to pressure the ball from end to end lines up neatly with that identity.
Asked Quin what he saw from Kingston tonight:
“He competed. Saw some really good things.
Spaced, knock down shots, picked up and played defense. Found some people passing the ball when he got an advantage, and then there's other things that a 19-year-old rookie, you expect to…
Flemings also has a strong learning environment around him. Being around Dyson Daniels and Lu Dort gives him a chance to watch some of the league’s best perimeter defenders up close, and that kind of daily example can shape how a young player approaches preparation, positioning and effort.
The physical tools were already there. The question was how quickly they would show up in a real NBA setting. Against Memphis, they showed up early.
Snyder has no reason to expect perfection from a player who won’t turn 20 until January 3. The rookie season is going to come with mistakes, especially as Flemings adjusts to the pace, physicality and decision-making of the league. But young players can still carve out a role by doing the little things that don’t require touches.
That’s where Flemings can help right now. He can defend, pressure the ball and bring energy without needing the offense to run through him. On a team with championship aspirations, that kind of contribution carries weight, especially when minutes aren’t handed out just for development.
One preseason game is hardly enough to rewrite the expectations for his rookie year. Still, it gave a clear look at why Atlanta was intrigued in the first place.
The offense can come later. The defense already looks ready to travel.
If Flemings keeps bringing that same intensity, he may not need to wait long to find his way onto the floor.
In Other News...
Hawks Could Have A Rare Shot At A Star Next Summer
New Yorks extension talks with Karl-Anthony Towns have become one of the more interesting front-office threads to monitor, especially with both sides still searching for common ground. The Knicks have put a four-year deal on the table, and while the number is substantial, it does not get all the way to the max Towns can sign. That leaves the door open for more back-and-forth, with his next decision carrying real weight for more than just his current team.
For Atlanta, the intrigue is obvious. The Hawks have spent plenty of time hunting for a true difference-maker to reshape the roster, and next summer could present a rare chance if Towns reaches free agency and the finances line up. There is still a long way to go before that becomes a real pursuit, but it is exactly the kind of scenario that can change the market for a team looking to accelerate its timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Opening Night Debate Comes Down To One Risky CJ McCollum Call
The Hawks opening night puzzle is not about talent so much as fit, and it has them weighing two very different ways to shape the first unit. CJ McCollum gives Atlanta a proven primary ball-handler who can steady possessions and create offense, while Lu Dort brings a cleaner off-ball wing profile that changes the look of the lineup around him.
What makes the decision tricky is that the numbers from past lineup combinations point in one direction, even as the roster construction suggests another. Atlanta could still choose to keep McCollum on the bench to juice scoring depth, but doing so would mean passing on the version of the starting five that seemed to function best when he was on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Suddenly Have A New Playoff Angle Against The Sixers
Philadelphias frontcourt picture took another hit before Ariel Hukporti could even get settled in. The recently acquired big man was supposed to be part of the 76ers answer behind Joel Embiid, but his torn Achilles has already knocked him out for the 2026-2027 season and added another wrinkle to a depth chart that was already under pressure. For Atlanta, it is the kind of development that is impossible to ignore if these teams end up meeting in the playoffs again.
Embiid still changes everything for Philadelphia when he is healthy, but the margin for error behind him keeps getting thinner, and that matters in a postseason series where every matchup gets squeezed. The Hawks have their own frontcourt questions to answer, too, which is why internal development there remains so important if they want to turn this into a real advantage. If Atlanta can keep building up that area of the roster, the Sixers may find themselves a little more vulnerable than they expected in a head-to-head matchup. [Read more 🡒]