The Atlanta Hawks found a possible answer at point guard on Wednesday night, when 19-year-old rookie Kingston Flemings made his first career start and helped lead Atlanta to a 120-105 win over the Washington Wizards in the nation’s capital, Audimax reported. In 23 minutes, Flemings scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three-point range, and added three rebounds and four assists against two turnovers.
Nearly a decade after the Hawks bet on a star point guard to carry them to the top, that player — Trae Young — appeared for the first time on the opposite side, suiting up for Washington in his first game against the team where his career began. Alongside Young stood AJ Dybantsa, this year’s first overall pick, but the headlines belonged to Flemings, the Houston product who had endured a turbulent debut week before earning a place in Atlanta’s starting five.
A 14-point, six-of-nine night from the rookie
Flemings’ efficiency stood out immediately. Head coach Quin Snyder repeatedly ran Atlanta’s offense through drives to the basket followed by kick-out passes, a scheme that let Flemings show both his passing under pressure and his touch around the rim.
One of his most important contributions came in the fourth quarter, when he found a wide-open Luguentz Dort at the top of the key; Dort buried a central three that gave Atlanta the lead, according to the report. By comparison, fellow rookie Dybantsa played 32 minutes but managed just nine points on 4-of-12 shooting.
McCollum reportedly stepped aside for the rookie
The decision to start Flemings over veteran point guard CJ McCollum was itself a story. Broadcast staff for both the Hawks and the Wizards reported during the game that McCollum had voluntarily given up his starting spot to make room for the rookie, Audimax reported. McCollum had come to Washington in the trade that sent Young to D.C., making the gesture toward his younger teammate all the more striking.
Kingston's 1st NBA start! Presented by @Chase pic.twitter.com/4d53APUHxT
McCollum still produced off the bench, scoring 15 points with five assists to spark Washington’s second unit while leaving the spotlight to Flemings. Whether the arrangement becomes permanent remains to be seen, but his starting debut suggests it worked: Atlanta’s offense flowed through the 19-year-old.
Young returns to Atlanta’s side of the ledger
Wednesday marked his first appearance against the Hawks, the organization that drafted him and where he built his career, and he shared the Wizards’ backcourt with Dybantsa. Atlanta, meanwhile, used the night to showcase the player many see as its point guard of the future.
Both the season and Flemings’ NBA career are still at their beginning, but the early returns suggest the rookie could make a name for himself not just in Atlanta but across the league as another standout from a strong draft class, Audimax reported. If he keeps converting opportunities the way he did in his first start, the job may be his to keep.
Worth a look
