The first round of the 2026 NBA draft took place on Tuesday night. The Atlanta Hawks had two first-round draft picks in this year’s draft. The draft follows a successful 2025-2026 campaign that saw the Hawks not only make the playoffs but also win back a large majority of their fan base, which had seemed alienated after the team traded All-Star guard Trae Young to the Washington Wizards.
With their first pick in this year’s draft, the eighth overall, the Atlanta Hawks selected University of Houston guard Kingston Flemings. A 6’4″ guard out of Newport News, Virginia, Flemings was a freshman All-American during his sole collegiate season.
With the 23rd overall selection, the Hawks selected St. John’s forward, Zuby Ejiofor.
Flemings spoke to the media via Zoom half an hour after he was selected. He said he was anxious while waiting for his name to be called and was happy to hear that Atlanta had selected him. “Knowing I’m going to a good organization is exciting to me,” Flemings said.
Flenings cited Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey as a player he models his game after.
Over the past five years, for example, the Hawks have had successes and failures at the NBA Draft. Players like Jalen Johnson, drafted 20th overall in 2021, and Onyeka Okongwu, drafted sixth overall in 2020, have become starters and key players for the franchise. While the former first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Zaccahrie Risacher, hasn’t lived up to the hype associated with being the top pick in a draft. Last season, Risacher averaged 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds on 45.5% shooting from the field and was virtually out of head coach Quin Snyder’s rotation during the playoff series against the eventual champion New York Knicks.
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