Grading The Atlanta Hawks Selection' of Houston PG Kingston Flemings At No. 8 Overall
Grading The Atlanta Hawks Selection' of Houston PG Kingston Flemings At No. 8 Overall
The Atlanta Hawks have added a big-time piece in Kingston Flemings to their backcourt who also has incredible potential as a starter. Rohan Roman|
In this story:
Atlanta HawksThe Atlanta Hawks have made their selection at No. 8 overall and it's a player that many thought they would take.
They've selected former Houston Cougars star point guard Kingston Flemings. Simply put, I think this is a great pick for the Hawks. I can understand the process and the player is fantastic. I do have some concerns, but they are outweighed by what Flemings could bring to Atlanta.
First Thoughts on Flemings
Let's start with the positives. Flemings is one of the most impressive passers and sped-up players in the class. He had an elite shuttle time of 2.69 at the NBA Combine, which speaks to how seamless of a transition player he could be for the Hawks. He's also got an impressive 2.91 assist/turnover ratio despite being the only ball-handler of note on a Houston team that was very defensively tilted and lacked a ton of scorers.
As a true freshman, he averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds on 47,6/38.7/84.5 shooting splits. While he only took 2.9 threes a game, it must also be factored in that Flemings was not playing in a spacing-heavy system at Houston. He's a decent midrange shooter, but the shooting isn't where he's going to earn his selection at No. 8.
Instead, it's the fact that he's one of the most cerebral and natural passers at the PG position in college. Flemings had an extremely impressive AST% of 32.6% and he's unusually good at finding teammates when he's playing fast. That sounds like a great fit with the high-octane offense that the Hawks have been working towards.
Off the court, he seems to be exactly what the Hawks are looking for. It's not something that can always be weighed equally with basketball skills, but Flemings' leadership, toughness and mentality stand out for a Hawks team that is still building its culture. That makeup is evident in his defense. He averaged 1.7 steals per 36 minutes, he's got great discipline and his foot speed/strength is surprising for someone who is on the smaller side.
Unfortunately, it has to be discussed that the Houston PG is a bit small relative to others at his position. He's 6'2.5 with a 6'3.5 wingspan and he's only got 183.4 lbs on him. That's just going to be a mistmatch in certain situations. He is still 19 years old, so there is a chance that he has some untapped room for physical development.
Even so, that's certainly a risk that the Hawks are going to have to mitigate. Furthermore, he wasn't a great finisher at the rim and that's going to be a concern for a smaller guard at the next level. There's a decent chance he's a Reed Sheppard variant and we've seen how that model struggles at the NBA level.
In terms of the position and how their pick fits with Atlanta's broader roster, he's going to slot in behind NAW, CJ McCollum and Dyson Daniels to start. That is a blessing rather than a detriment - rookie guards take time to develop and the Hawks don't have any pressure to thrust him into a starting role from Day 1.
Even with the depth they have at guard, it is still arguable that this was Atlanta's biggest need to address in the draft.
Obviously, the Hawks had no answer for Karl-Anthony Towns on the roster and one could argue that a floor-spacing center who can also protect the rim is their biggest need. Still, that isn't realistically something the Hawks could fix in the draft. More consistently, they lost to the Knicks because they ran out of players who could create their own shot and run around on the perimeter. That speaks to needs in the backcourt.
Furthermore, Dyson Daniels is an incredible player and he can obviously develop further into someone who can punish defensive schemes who just leave him open. However, it can't be ignored that he's struggled offensively in the playoffs for two straight seasons. McCollum is approaching the end of his career and it'd be frankly insane to expect the same heater of a performance that he gave the Hawks in the first round.
They need to start planning for the future at that position and giving themselves some insurance if Daniels continues to hamstring the offensive spacing at the higher levels of the playoffs.
I really like this pick for Atlanta and I can see exactly why they picked him. I have some questions about how the size will translate at the next level, but this is great work from president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh. He landed arguably the best point guard in the draft at No. 8.
Grade: B+
Published 12 minutes ago
ROHAN ROMANRohan Raman has been covering the Atlanta Hawks for On SI since June 2024. He has been a contributor to Georgia Tech Athletics for On SI since May 2022 and enjoys providing thoughtful analysis of football, basketball and baseball at the collegiate and professional level.
Home/News
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
