Rookie Kingston Flemings Makes Hawks History in Loss to Miami

Flemings reached the milestone in his fifth NBA appearance, shooting 9-for-12 from the field and making three of five three-point attempts. After scoring 13 points across his first four games, he poured in 14 points in the fourth quarter as Atlanta tried to recover from a double-digit deficit.

Hawks coach Quin Snyder kept Flemings on the floor late in the game instead of veteran guard CJ McCollum. Atlanta’s comeback fell short, while Miami earned its first win of the season. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo each scored 24 points; Antetokounmpo also had 18 rebounds, and Adebayo grabbed nine.

The loss left Atlanta with a 2-3 record after opening the season with two wins and then dropping three straight. Flemings’ performance nonetheless offered a strong early showing for the player selected eighth in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The rookie is averaging 6.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 47% from the field and 36% from three. His passing and impact alongside the Hawks’ other players have prompted discussion about whether he could eventually start at point guard.

A change is not expected immediately. McCollum remains a veteran option, and Flemings will need to produce more consistently. His outing against Miami has, however, strengthened the case for tracking his development and role over the coming weeks.