Rookie Will Riley and sophomore AJ Johnson ignite Wizards' win with career-best efforts, outshining draft-focused rivals and catching superstar attention.
Last night, the Washington Wizards picked up their third victory in four games after defeating the Sacramento Kings 116-112, on Sunday night at Capital One Arena.
Many considered this game to be the "tank bowl", as both teams are actively preparing for the 2026 NBA Draft and are prioritizing their draft position over winning basketball.
However, Washington's young core prevailed as rookie forward Will Riley and sophomore guard AJ Johnson had breakout performances.
Both players came off the bench but were extremely impactful in their minutes played.
In 30 minutes, Riley scored 18 points (career-high), hauled in six rebounds and dished out six assists while shooting 4/8 from three.
Johnson scored 17 points while racking up four assists on 7/13 from the field in 27 minutes.
Riley displayed his knockdown shooting and defensive versatility as he was tasked with guarding veterans Demar Derozan and Zach Lavine throughout the game. The rookie also showed his aggressive nature, as he hauled in three offensive rebounds.
Riley is slowly but surely becoming a key player in Washington's rebuild, due to his 3&D upside and improved shot making.
Riley's recent performance has even raised the eyebrows of newest Washington Wizards star, Trae Young.
Young posted a picture of Riley and himself on his Instagram story following Washington's victory over Sacramento on Sunday night, and added the text "WILL RILEY" in all caps.
Safe to say that the 4x All-Star has been pleased with the rookie's game this season.
Johnson was part of the Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee package at the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline, but he has had very minimal opportunities in Washington to breakout.
Luckily for Johnson, last night was the perfect opportunity for him to showcase his abilities, especially with Washington being without some key players.
Johnson displayed his lightning quick speed and ability to create scoring opportunities when attacking downhill. The sophomore has always had top tier speed, and that agility was displayed last night when Johnson scored his season-high in points.
At only 21 years old, Johnson has so much more room to grow, but his natural handle, long strides and high upside playmaking ability makes Johnson a promising young asset for Washington.
With the NBA Trade Deadline being on Feb 5, Washington's roster could look significantly different this time next week, allowing for Johnson and Riley to have more opportunities.
The next step for these two is to build on their recent performance, and they'll have the opportunity to do so on February 3, 2026 against the New York Knicks.