Kingston with 14 points in first career start

Flemings has fit rather seamlessly into Atlanta’s starting lineup, taking the place of veteran CJ McCollum for the third consecutive game. He managed to reach double figures in the scoring department for the third straight contest as he took more of a backseat with Jalen Johnson back from a sprained ankle. The 19-year-old rookie has put himself on fantasy managers’ radar screens with his recent performance and should be rostered in deeper leagues.

Jalen Johnson (ankle) will miss a second straight game, so Dort remains in the starting lineup. The other change is big: Flemings has replaced CJ McCollum. The change boosts the rookie’s fantasy value, especially if head coach Quin Snyder sticks with it moving forward.

Flemings was ejected from Saturday’s game after elbowing Pelicans wing Bryce McGowens in the face during a confrontation. The NBA has since suspended the rookie for one game, which he’ll serve on Monday against the Pacers. Flemings will be eligible to return on Wednesday against the Wizards.

Flemings was ejected after an altercation with New Orleans’ Bryce McGowens. After McGowens blocked Flemings’ layup attempt, the rookie guard threw an elbow at the face of the Pelicans’ wing while play headed in the opposite direction. Multiple players from both teams left their benches, but no one else was ejected because the Hawks had called a timeout. Flemings finished with 12 points, two rebounds, six assists, four steals and one three-pointer.

Flemings came off the bench, played 28 minutes and had the best game of his young career so far. The 19-year-old rookie was impressive with 23 points on 12 attempts from the field and a full stat line. Flemings ended up playing more minutes than starter CJ McCollum, but don’t expect that to continue. Timing Flemings’ next outstanding performance will be difficult given his inconsistent playing time, making him more of a priority in dynasty formats.

After sitting out Atlanta’s preseason opener, McCollum played on Thursday, and his insertion into the lineup pushed Kingston Flemings (15/3/5/3, with two three-pointers) to the bench. McCollum’s move to the starting lineup was a major reason the Hawks finished the 2025-26 regular season with a flourish, and he’ll have a similar role this season. While his fantasy ceiling is somewhat limited, McCollum’s floor should be safe.

Flemings, the eighth-overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, will back up veteran CJ McCollum who is back on a one-year, $21 million pact following a stellar postseason performance. The 19-year-old rookie got the start in Atlanta’s pre-season lid-lifter with McCollum getting the night off. There are plenty of mouths to feed in the Hawks’ new-look backcourt, but Flemings should have the green light whenever he comes off the bench, especially since they don’t have a ton of high-volume scorers in their present nucleus. He’ll go undrafted in most redraft leagues, but he’s likely to have some moments throughout his rookie season where he shows some flashes of big-time scoring upside.

Four of Atlanta’s five projected starters are available for Monday’s preseason opener, except CJ McCollum. His absence opens up a spot for Flemings, the eighth overall pick in June’s draft. The role may not align with what awaits Flemings once the regular season begins, but starting immediately is a positive sign, even if it’s as a fill-in for McCollum.

Flemings has struggled as a scorer this summer, but his impact as a defender and playmaker has been evident. That was the case in Salt Lake City, and it has carried over to Las Vegas. So far this summer, he has 22 assists, 10 stocks and just three turnovers. Atlanta has enough scoring options, so if Flemings’ scoring struggles continue during the regular season, his defense and playmaking should allow him to still make a positive impact in year one.

After struggling with his shot in his summer debut on Saturday, Flemings cleaned some things up on Monday. However, where he once again stood out was as a playmaker and defender. Flemings recorded five more assists while committing just one turnover, and his four “stocks” included three blocked shots. While he’s likely to come off the bench as a rookie, Flemings has shown early on that he may offer value in deeper redraft leagues to managers specifically seeking assists and defensive stats.