Kingston Flemings Dominates in First NBA Start for Hawks

Kingston Flemings shines for Atlanta in first career start.

The Atlanta Hawks rookie point guard made his first NBA start Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards.

Flemings delivered 14 points in 23 minutes on 6-of-9 shooting from the field.

He also hit both of his three-point attempts.

The 19-year-old out of Houston added three rebounds and four assists with just two turnovers.

His team won 120-105 on the road.

The start came just days after Flemings served a one-game suspension for elbowing Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens.

That incident happened during only his second NBA game.

Now he has responded with the best performance of his young career.

Flemings took and made the first shot of the game for Atlanta.

He kicked out to Luguentz Dort for a straightaway three in the fourth quarter to keep the Hawks in control.

His fingerprints were all over the offense in his maiden start.

Importantly, Flemings started over veteran guard CJ McCollum.

According to members of both the Hawks' and Wizards' broadcasts, the switch was McCollum's own idea.

McCollum wanted the rookie to get into a rhythm.

Even with Flemings starting, McCollum still played 25 minutes off the bench.

Flemings played 23 minutes, meaning the two guards shared the floor at times.

Head coach Quin Snyder ran drive-and-kick sets consistently throughout the night.

This gave Flemings opportunities to showcase his passing under pressure.

He also demonstrated the touch that makes him a threat at the rim.

Basketball University noted on social media that Flemings' creativity around the rim continues to impress.

They highlighted his wide finishes, funky pickups, and hesitations.

The contrast with the other rookie point guard on the floor was striking.

AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, started for the Wizards alongside Trae Young.

Dybantsa finished with only nine points in 32 minutes on 4-of-12 shooting.

Flemings outscored him in nine fewer minutes on the court.

The game also marked the first time Trae Young faced the franchise that drafted him.

Young spent nearly a decade as Atlanta's franchise point guard.

The Hawks traded him to Washington in the offseason.

Now the team appears to have found his replacement.

Flemings was the Hawks' first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

His debut week was tumultuous.

After impressing in his first game, he was suspended for elbowing McGowens.

The NBA handed down a one-game ban for the incident.

Flemings sat out the next game and watched from the locker room.

He returned to the lineup and immediately earned a starting role.

The implications for this season could be significant.

Atlanta has been searching for a long-term answer at point guard since trading Young.

McCollum is a veteran stopgap, not the future.

Flemings has shown in three games that he might already be ready.

His speed allows him to collapse defenses with ease.

His passing vision creates opportunities for shooters like Dort.

His shooting touch keeps defenders honest.

The question now is whether Snyder will keep Flemings in the starting lineup.

McCollum's willingness to step aside suggests the locker room supports the rookie.

That kind of veteran buy-in is rare in the NBA.

It signals that Flemings has earned respect quickly.

The Hawks have a young core forming around him.

Dort provides two-way stability on the wing.

The frontcourt rotation includes athletic bigs who benefit from Flemings' playmaking.