The Silver Lining in Kingston Flemings' Summer League Shooting Struggles
· Yahoo Sports
NBA fans have learned not to overreact to Summer League. At least, some have.
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It's a difficult balance to strike. It would be unwise to assume that whatever happens in Summer League will translate directly into the regular season.
That said, it's worth keeping an eye on trends. This is high-level basketball filled with fringe NBA players and future stars alike trying to prove themselves. If someone is finding success at the Summer League level, it speaks well to their NBA potential.
That's why it's so encouraging to see the Atlanta Hawks' Kingston Flemings succeeding in one key area.
Hawks Rookie Shining in Key Area
Through four Summer League performances, Flemings is averaging 6.8 assists per game, with only a handful of turnovers to show for it.
His ball security has been impressive. Flemings shows remarkable poise for a young guard. He's been operating the pick-and-roll at high volume, and his ability to consistently make the right read has been outstanding.
Moreover, he's averaging 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game as well. Flemings' defensive aggression was always part of his prospect profile, and it's showing. This works nicely in tandem with his ball security. Flemings is keeping the ball in the Hawks' hands, helping them win the possession game on both ends of the floor.
How it translates when the regular season begins remains to be seen.
Hawks' Flemings Still Has Room to Grow
When it comes to rookies, evaluators are content if there's any good to go with the bad and the ugly. Flemings is no exception.
He's shooting 31.8% from the field through those four games. Flemings is having particular trouble at the rim. Hopefully, it's a matter of luck. There's been no shortage of layups that looked like they'd find the bottom of the net, only to rim out. The 30.8% he's shooting from long-range also leaves room for improvement.
There are valid questions about whether Flemings can be a reliable enough NBA scorer to be a star. That said, Atlanta didn't necessarily draft him to be a high-volume offensive player. As long as Flemings complements Jalen Johnson, he'll look like a good pick for this organization.
Turnover suppression and possession maximizing are two good ways to do just that. A point guard who can run the pick-and-roll without turning the ball over is perfect next to any star. Moreover, it's fair to assume Flemings' three-point efficiency will improve. Even if he struggles at the rim, he's looking like an excellent long-term NBA player, if Summer League is any indication, anyway.
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