Was the Atlanta Hawks 2026 First-Round Draft a Success?
After getting roughed up by the Knicks in the 2026 playoffs, the Hawks' first-round picks bring a ton of toughness and athleticism to the team.
In the 2026 first round of the draft, the Hawks fared much better than they did in 2024. That year, in a statistical shocker, the Hawks lucked into the 1st pick, having had only a 3% chance of landing the top spot. Unfortunately for them, it was the 1st pick in a draft class without a clear-cut frontrunner, lacking a franchise-defining prospect like Wembanyama in 2023.
With their 2024 pick, the Hawks selected Frenchman (not sure why I focused on his Frenchness) Zachary Risacher. In his rookie year, Risacher was a solid contributor, averaging 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 24.6 minutes. He went on to have a career game in April of 2025, when he scored 38 points against the Brooklyn Nets.
The Hawks were hoping for a continued upward trajectory in Risacher's second year; unfortunately, his sophomore season fizzled (we can dig into that later), and he had a statistical drop in nearly every category. By the 2026 playoffs, he was coming off the bench, and only rarely, at that.
This year's draft class was a vast improvement over 2024, with much more talent and depth. With two first-round picks – the 8th (received via the Pelicans) and the 23rd – the Hawks had an opportunity to make solid additions to their squad.
So who did they pick?
8th pick – Kingston Flemings, 6'3", Houston Point Guard
With the 8th pick, the Hawks selected point guard Kingston Flemings, who averaged an impressive 16.1 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in his single season as a Houston Cougar.
In Flemings, the Hawks get an ultra-athletic point whose quickness and explosiveness stood out at the draft combine. His max vertical of 40.5" was 10th overall and 3rd among guards. Impressive for sure, but speed is where he really shines. In measures of speed, he posted the 2nd-best shuttle run and the 3rd-best three-quarter sprint.
He put these physical gifts to effective use during his sole season with Houston, consistently getting downhill and past defenders to attack the basket. And he wasn't aggressive only on the offensive end; on the defensive end, he's a lockdown defender who can make chase-down, hustle blocks, Lebron-style.
In addition, Flemings is a capable ball handler and shooter, knocking down 38% of his 3s this past year.
Beyond his physical capabilities, what stands out are his intangible qualities – ones that you don't always see in a player at such a young age (only 19). In his appearance on one of my favorite basketball podcasts, "All the Smoke", his intelligence, poise, and drive are all evident. When asked by Matt Barnes what the team can expect from him this coming year, part of his response was "...every single year in the league, I'm gonna get better."
You also get a feel for that drive and toughness in this Letter to GMs that Flemings published in "The Players' Tribune" the day of the draft. In his letter, he recounts two of the major events that shaped him as a person and a player, one of which was being run over by an SUV at the age of four. If you live to tell that tale, you have no choice but to be tough.
It's too early to tell what kind of NBA player he'll be. He still has room for improvement on his outside shot, for instance, but based on his season at Houston, his combine stats, and his interviews and writing, I'm hopeful about his pro potential and am rooting for his success.
23rd pick – Zuby Ejiofor, 6'9", St. Johns Center
Like Flemings, who grew up in San Antonio and went on to Houston, Zuby Ejiofor also has a Texas association, having grown up in Garland, Texas. Maybe that's why I'm partial to both of these guys – my Dad is also from the Longhorn state. Also like Flemings, Ejiofor displays a tough, attacking style of play on both the offensive and defensive ends that the Hawks can benefit from, particularly if they make it to the playoffs again.
Ejiofor started his college playing career slowly with the Kansas Jayhawks, where he averaged 1.2 points in around 5 minutes played per game. Since moving to the St. Johns Red Storm for his remaining three college seasons, he has steadily improved, finishing his senior year with impressive stats and a long list of accolades.
In his final college season, he averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks. By the end of the season, he had been recognized as the Big East Player of the Year, the Big East Defensive Player of the Year, the Big East Tournament MVP, the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, and more.
Listed at 6'9" with St. Johns, but measuring at just 6'7.5" barefoot at the draft combine, it remains to be seen where he will fit with the Hawks' rotation. He could continue at center in a small lineup, but might also spend time at power forward.
In highlight reels, he shows great post footwork, able to either face up or play with his back to the basket. He also showed that he can take his defender off the dribble, though this was typically against opposing college centers. If he finds himself playing the four spot in the pros, getting past quicker defenders could be a challenge.
One thing that will help him succeed as a four is continued improvement on his outside shot. His shooting ability is something NBA scouts questioned, but at the draft combine, he fared well in off-the-dribble shots. I actually like his shooting form, and if he continues his year-over-year improvement in the pros as he did in college, I think he could end up being able to space the floor like an Al Horford-style big.
On that note, in interviews, Ejiofor said he patterns his game after players like Bam Adebayo, who he has also been compared to by others. If he ends up anywhere near Adebayo’s level, then the Hawks got a steal in this first round.
Finally, as with Flemings, I like the way Ejiofor comes across in interviews. His attitude is that of a roll-up-your-sleeves team player who is willing to work hard and wants to improve every season.
I'm happy with this first-round draft class and feel like we got two athletic, tough players with a lot of upside who can shine individually and also fit in with Quin Snyder's team style of play. After the Hawks were physically roughed up by the Knicks in the postseason, these young guys are just the type of players we need to fight back next year.