San Antonio's Own Kingston Flemings Ready for NBA
San Antonio's Kingston Flemings Knows His Worth. He's Ready to Show All 30 NBA Teams
Consensus top-10 NBA Draft pick Kingston Flemings isn't likely to land in San Antonio, but he's ready to become the next great South Texas success story Tuesday night. Matt Guzman|
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San Antonio SpursHouston CougarsSAN ANTONIO — Kingston Flemings watches enough basketball.
Enough to feel the weight and excitement of the San Antonio Spurs reaching the NBA Finals as a native Texan. And enough to know their paths are unlikely to cross anytime soon, especially not during Tuesday's NBA Draft at Barclays Center in New York.
Asked if he ever allowed the thought of playing for his hometown squad creep into his mind ahead of Round 1, the former Houston Cougar made clear the latter.
"Not really, to be honest," Flemings, a San Antonio native, told Spurs On SI. "I mean, obviously the Spurs are a really great team. But I think it's a little bit out of my draft range."
Flemings, coming off a Sweet 16 season in which he led Houston in points and assists, has bought into the hype around his name as a consensus top-10 pick. Some mock drafts have him as high as No. 7, routing him to the Sacramento Kings. Others send him to Atlanta.
Wherever he lands — which he knows could be anywhere — he plans to bring gratitude.
"Wherever you end up is where you end up," Flemings said. "That's a great way to think about it. I mean, any team that drafts me, I'm going to be a super lucky person. There's not a lot of people that get drafted to the NBA. So ... I'm going to be super excited."
Ahead of his red carpet appearance in Brooklyn, Flemings partnered with USAA to return to San Antonio and reflect on his journey to the NBA with his family.
Flemings' mother, Shayla, supports veterans as a Nurse Manager at the VA in San Antonio, while his father, Demetric, served three years in the Army. Flemings' grandparents and great grandparents also served in the Army, Navy and Air Force throughout their careers.
Together with his younger sister, Bella — now a four-star Duke basketball commit — Flemings navigated the military family landscape and often cites the lessons it taught him.
"That was just our household," Flemings said. "When you grow up in something like that, you're kind of used to it: 'Yes, sir. No, ma'am.' ... it's instilled a lot of the values I have in life."
He continued, speaking on his sister's impending basketball journey at the collegiate level: "It's just a great thing that both of our dreams are coming true."
Respect helped Flemings climb up league circles as an exciting prospect beyond what he was capable of on the court. The point guard made a name for himself throughout Houston's impressive season. When it was over, he left with a forever advocate in Kelvin Sampson.
"I always thought Kingston was special," the Houston coach said prior to his squad's first NCAA tournament game in March. "He’s a very good conversationalist ... he likes to ask questions. He’s a very grounded young man. Very mature, in some ways."
Flemings returned the praise for the near-Hall-of-Fame coach.
"His experience is definitely a big thing," Flemings said. "What he teaches us on and off the court is something that you can't learn from a lot of people ... being able to play under Coach Sam was definitely a great moment. I'm glad I could be one of (his) players."
Flemings averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 48 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from 3 across 37 appearances. His ability to touch the paint with speed while playing tenacious defensive, despite his size, stick out most.
"He (makes) everyone better," said Flemings' Houston teammate Chris Cenac Jr. — also a projected first-round pick. "That's definitely helped me a lot. He's a high IQ guy, great point guard. Great character. Just playing with a guy like that, it's improved my game, as well."
Flemings plans to show off all of his better traits while simultaneously improving his game.
"Getting downhill, beating my defender ... and creating space for my teammates," Flemings began, "I think I'm really great at that. It'll be (shown) at the next level. And what I'm to work on? Definitely my body. Getting stronger, getting faster, bigger so I can really go and play."
As he's prepared for the draft, Flemings turned to several NBA veterans who have been through the process. George Hill made his list, along with fellow Houston alum Jamal Shead and even Spurs star De'Aaron Fox, fresh off the first NBA Finals berth of his career.
What he's learned is simple: remaining in the league takes constant dedication. Luckily for him, Shead already sees the potential in the soon-to-be NBA Cougar.
"He's not scared," Shead said. "He adapts really well. That kid loves basketball. Loves being around basketball, loves learning around basketball ... that's going to take him far."
When he was younger, Flemings had a dream of playing basketball at the highest level he could. From William J. Brennan High School to the NCAA Tournament, he's done enough to punch his ticket to the NBA. The next step is finding how he fits on his new team.
While his trust doesn't come easy — ask Sampson — the San Antonio product is ready for what's next. Flemings watches enough basketball to know his next stop won't be in South Texas, but he hopes the teams in his range have watched enough of him to take a chance.
"It's surreal," Flemings said. "Me, my friends, people I played with in high school ... in college, all going through the same process. It's a great feeling. I'm just ready to get drafted."
Published 1 hour ago
MATT GUZMANMatt Guzman is a sports journalist and storyteller from Austin, Texas. He serves as a credentialed reporter and site manager for San Antonio Spurs On SI. In the world of professional sports, he’s a firm believer that athletes are people, too. He aims to spotlight the true, behind-the-scenes character of players and teams through strong narrative writing and sharp, hooking ledes.
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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.'
