Atlanta Hawks · 6 notes
CJ McCollum sat out the Hawks' Oct. 5 game; Quin Snyder said they learned that morning he couldn't play, no reason given. That threw Kingston Flemings, a 19-year-old rookie, into his first game. "He competed. Saw some really good things," Snyder said, with "room for growth."
If I play 8 minutes, I'm trying to affect it the same as if I play 20.
Hawks rookies' minutes hinge on depth. Zuby Ejiofor hasn't gotten into some games, though Quin Snyder said he had a really good practice. Kingston Flemings, before the opener against the Magic: "If I play 8 minutes, I'm trying to affect it the same as if I play 20."
get downhill, get CJ, Nickeil the ball
Rookie Kingston Flemings on his Hawks role: defend, pressure the ball and "get downhill, get CJ, Nickeil the ball" — creating for CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. His summer: workouts with LeBron James, who was "already in there working out" at 5 a.m.
getting him in situations where he could really defend and have an impact, but not foul.
Kingston Flemings is directing the Hawks on the floor, and Quin Snyder said part of the process has been "getting him in situations where he could really defend and have an impact, but not foul." He saw a better on-ball presence and a feel for when to shoot and when to pass.
Kingston is really like having a lot thrown at him right now because he's got a big role for us this season.
Hawks teammate Jock Landale on Kingston Flemings: "Kingston is really like having a lot thrown at him right now because he's got a big role for us this season." It's a teammate's read, not a coach's minutes commitment.
it's a big step up from college to the NBA.
"Coaches say 5s, 4s, they're mainly interchangeable." Hawks rookie Zuby Ejiofor on the power forward and center spots. On his preseason debut: few nerves, but "it's a big step up from college to the NBA." Rookie duties: he does Krispy Kreme, Kingston Flemings Chick-fil-A.