Kingston Flemings says shooting, paint scoring and defense are as much a focus as pace in his early NBA development with the Hawks.
Kingston Flemings said the biggest adjustment early in his rookie camp with the Atlanta Hawks has been matching a pace that is faster than anything he saw in one season at Houston, even as he insists it plays to his strengths.
"It's definitely an adjustment, but I like playing fast too," Flemings said. "I'm learning how to play at that pace in practice and in games. I'm not going to be a complete NBA player in my first game—that's just not how it works. I'm focused on getting better every day."
Flemings, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, said Atlanta's stylistic identity lines up with the way he already prefers to play.
"The Hawks play fast, and that's how I like to play, so I'm just trying to get more comfortable with that style," he said.
The early days of camp under Hawks head coach Quin Snyder have not felt like a jarring departure from what Flemings experienced under Kelvin Sampson at Houston, he said, even with a bigger roster around him in Atlanta.
"There are definitely more guys here, but honestly, Houston practiced hard too," Flemings said. "Coach Sampson is a great coach, and he and Coach Snyder are similar in a lot of ways. Right now we're easing into things since it's our first few days back, so it's actually been pretty similar to what we did during the summer at Houston."
Flemings said his goals for Summer League extend beyond simply adjusting to speed. He wants to show he can consistently execute the specific instructions Atlanta's coaching staff has already given him.
"I want to get comfortable offensively, make the right reads, defend well, and build chemistry with my teammates," Flemings said. "Coach has talked to me about taking open threes when they're there, continuing to get into the paint—which is one of my strengths—and defending. I just want to show I can consistently do those things and continue proving myself."
Flemings has not played a competitive game since Houston's season ended in the NCAA Tournament, and he said that gap has only sharpened his focus heading into Saturday's Summer League opener against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.
"My last game was at Illinois—I don't even remember exactly when it was, sometime in April," Flemings said. "It's been a while since I've played real five-on-five basketball, so I'm excited to get back on the floor with my teammates and go out there and get a win."
Flemings said the reality of playing meaningful Summer League minutes has not fully hit him yet, even with tip-off just days away.
"It'll probably really hit me once I actually step on the court," he said. "Being here every day in the practice facility with these guys has already been exciting, and now I'm just looking forward to getting out there and playing."
