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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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Atlanta Hawks rookie Kingston Flemings is wasting little time making his mark in the NBA.
The 19-year-old guard delivered a breakout performance Wednesday night against the Miami Heat, recording 23 points, five rebounds and five assists while making franchise history in just his fifth NBA appearance.
Flemings is now the youngest player in franchise history to record at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in a single game.
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The former Houston standout accomplished the feat despite Atlanta falling 129-117 to Miami at State Farm Arena.
Flemings was one of the few bright spots for the Hawks, shooting an efficient 9 of 12 from the field and connecting on three of his five attempts from beyond the arc.
His performance was particularly impressive considering his limited offensive production entering the matchup.
Through his first four NBA games, Flemings had scored just 13 points combined. However, Wednesday's contest offered a glimpse of why Atlanta selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The rookie provided a much-needed spark off the bench, scoring 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as Atlanta attempted to erase a double-digit deficit.
Flemings' impact was significant enough that Hawks head coach Quin Snyder elected to keep him on the floor down the stretch instead of veteran guard CJ McCollum.
The decision reflected the confidence Flemings earned with his performance, even as Atlanta struggled to complete its comeback.
Miami controlled much of the contest behind strong performances from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, who each finished with 24 points.
Antetokounmpo added 18 rebounds, while Adebayo collected nine as the Heat secured their first victory of the season.
Despite the loss, Flemings' performance provided an encouraging development for an Atlanta team attempting to establish consistency early in the season.
The Hawks opened the season with consecutive victories before dropping three straight games, falling to 2-3 following Wednesday's loss.
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But even in defeat, Atlanta may have found something to be excited about.
After a quiet start to his NBA career, Flemings delivered the kind of performance that showed why the Hawks invested a top-10 draft pick in him. His ability to score efficiently while creating opportunities for his teammates offered an encouraging glimpse of what he could bring to Atlanta's backcourt.
One game won't determine Flemings' future, but Wednesday's performance was a promising sign for a franchise looking to build its next contender. If the rookie can continue developing, the Hawks may have found a player capable of becoming an important piece of their future.
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