We’re officially less than a month away from the 81st NBA season, and teams around the league are fulfilling their media day obligations. It’s a fun time for the players and journalists alike, so everyone got excited when Atlanta Hawks rookie Kingston Flemings graced the podium.
Fans around the league are always excited to meet their new rookies, and the city of Atlanta is buzzing about their new point guard. His 37-game performance for the Houston Cougars and the NBA Summer League endeavor justifies the hype.
He was quickly asked about his family life, so he pulled back the curtain on his past:
“Growing up in our family, my mom and my dad raised us really well to become hard workers,” Flemings said. “We all played against each other, but it was great growing up and living with them.”
It’s something we already knew, given his effort on the hardwood, and things got even better when he mentioned his summer activities with world-renowned trainer Chris Johnson.
“Jalen [Johnson] told us to come down to Cali to work. I knew Chris Johnson because I played against his son in AAU a lot and in college. So, I remember after one of those games he said, 'We're gonna have to go get work in’,”
Flemings continued, "We went there for a whole week, got great work in, and we got some good runs too. So it was fun getting to play with Zuby and Jalen for the first time.”
This was a lovely revelation because of Jalen Johnson’s leadership. He’s bound for a big season as the Hawks' number-one option and sole All-Star. It’s encouraging to see him take the initiative, and his kindness turned into an unforgettable experience for his new teammate.
Flemings faced Hall of Famers on the hardwood
One of those pro runs consisted of LeBron James, DeMar DeRozan, Peyton Watson, and DeAndre Jordan. The 19-year-old was enamored by the scrimmage, but he maintained his focus throughout the game.
He held his ground multiple times on defense against bigger opponents, and penetrated the defense on the other end. It was an extremely rare occurrence for a rookie. Most don’t get the chance to play against living legends before their first NBA game.
Flemings expanded on the experience after it came up during media day:
“It’s crazy. LeBron was drafted ‘03, and I was born ‘07. So four years for sure. But I mean, I was actually playing with Bron in Cali,”
He added, “I saw him working out in the morning. I think 5:00 a.m. He was there stretching at probably 4:00 a.m. before I even got there. So, it's crazy being able to see that.”
Soaking up such knowledge will be massive for Flemings down the line. LeBron’s example will only add fuel to Kingston’s fire, and he has the connection through Johnson, his team leader. He expressed his internal thoughts to the media, and it’s clear his idolization will reunite them in the future.
“He's still in the NBA today. He's one of the greatest players of all time. I'm going to say that. And he's definitely one of the best players in the NBA still. So, being able to play against him and compete against him is going to be a dream come true.”
Flemings left the podium shortly after and it’s clear the best is yet to come. He has the best mentors inside and outside the Hawks organization.
All of his resources put him on an upward trajectory, and it’s fair to say that Atlanta can develop talent after seeing multiple Hawks win the Most Improved Player award.
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