The Atlanta Hawks find themselves with quite the logjam at point guard. Caught between two timelines, the team has opted to bring veteran guard CJ McCollum off the bench, while thrusting rookie point guard Kingston Flemings into the starting lineup.
Typically, a lottery pick like Flemings would have plenty of opportunities to develop his game and grow into the role. But the Hawks aren’t your typical lottery team. They have legitimate expectations of winning, and with some glaring holes at point guard, Flemings will be stepping into a situation with very little margin for error.
That said, the Hawks have the utmost confidence in Flemings’ ability to rise to the occasion. After a poor start to the season, McCollum himself suggested that the team go in a different direction.
The veteran guard is entering a new stage of his career, and giving Flemings the opportunity to develop in a starting role offers a lot of upside. While McCollum’s experience and consistency could provide stability in the short term, the Hawks still have long-term questions to answer at that position. If developed properly, Flemings has the potential to address those concerns and become a key piece of the team’s future.
Since stepping into the starting lineup, Flemings has averaged 10.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. However, the most encouraging aspect of his game has been his efficiency. He’s shooting an impressive 58.1% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc.
The Hawks may be a move or two away from becoming legitimate contenders, but if Flemings can continue to grow into his starting role and maintain this level of efficiency, there’s no telling just how good this team can become.
