The Atlanta Hawks have selected Houston's Kingston Flemings with the eighth-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Mocked to Atlanta since the lottery unfolded the way it did, Flemings lands in a spot where he'll be able to truly thrive from day one. There was real uncertainty as to which direction the Hawks would go with their top-ten pick, but now, they've left nothing to doubt. They wanted to bring in a long-term replacement for Trae Young, and they've finally got him.
While similar in particular aspects, they differ in many others, making Flemings the perfect lead guard to help this Hawks core ascend.
Flemings gives the Hawks a much-needed insurance plan
Originally expected to be an undeniable top-five pick, the 6'2" guard out of Houston was met with a bit of a stock drop after the combine revealed somewhat underwhelming measurements.
What makes him special, though, is that he does not play like an undersized guard. At all. Flemings not only displays impressive offensive creativity with his ability to navigate and push the pace, but he is a quality defensive player - directly aligning himself with what Atlanta's building.
Now, he won't get the starting nod right away, as the Hawks just extended veteran CJ McCollum on a one-year deal. This means, though, that they're fully prepared for him to take over in year two, or maybe even midway through next season, as McCollum's one-year extension comes with a trade-kicker.
Regardless of what they choose to do with the construction of the roster, it's nice to know there's no more uncertainty at the most important position of the floor. For both the present tense and the future - one thing's for sure - the Atlanta Hawks are set at the one.
His leadership skills will be what help him succeed the most
His nightly attack is the thing that made scouts initially interested in his services, but what made Atlanta as comfortable as they were was his proven ability to lead a squad at such a young age.
Freshman point guards aren't often given as much offensive freedom as Flemings received in his first, and only, collegiate season. He left no doubt, though, leading his Cougars to an incredibly successful season.
Being able to keep a locker room together is no easy task, especially in the NBA, and there's no reason to believe he won't be able to do it at the next level.
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