Think back to the last handful of NBA Champions.
New York, OKC, and Boston over the last three years. What did all three teams, after a hardfought climb to the unparalleled summit of the basketball world, have in common?
Each squad rostered a plethora of elite - truly elite perimeter defenders/offensive engine stoppers. Great news, Hawks fans - Onsi Saleh plucked out not only an elite defender in this stacked draft class, but also a reliable offensive creator; a rare duality to find in any NBA player.
The tried and true formula to contend: switchability and defensive redundancy
Backtracking to each of the past three champs - let's take a look at each squad. The Boston Celtics had Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and the Jay's to shut down any offensive strategy their 2024 opponents threw at them.
The Celtics were able to shine the brightest on the largest stage, too - each of the above four lockdown defenders played their part in reducing Luka Doncic's generational offense to a shell of its former self in the NBA Finals.
The OKC Thunder are the epitome of a defensive nightmare. Rostering Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, and even SGA himself - their backcourt is chock-full of perimeter stoppers.
Finally, just a few weeks ago, the Knicks won the 2026 championship on the back of the defensive efforts of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges. While the Hawks gave them a fair run for their money in the first round, this defensive trio may just have paved the way for Atlanta to go defense-first in the backcourt this draft.
Flemings' defensive strengths perfectly complement Dyson and NAW
Kingston Flemings was always the perfect pick at 8th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft for Atlanta. Not only does his offensive dribble-drive and midrange game open up so many aspects for the Hawks' offense in the future (especially once CJ departs the franchise), but his defense is exactly what Atlanta needed in the modern NBA.
Being able to throw multiple defensive stoppers at offensive engines is the recipe for success, as Boston, OKC, and New York have proven the last several seasons. Now that the Hawks possess the trio of Daniels, Alexander-Walker, and Flemings, opponents will need to work just that extra bit harder to get easy buckets on the perimeter.
Hawks fans should be thrilled with the pick that Onsi Saleh and the Hawks' front office made. After many reports that Atlanta could possibly trade down or out of the draft entirely from pick 8, this was always the best outcome.
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