Rookie shooter Will Riley has set multiple career-highs over his four-game span, including Thursday's road upset against the Denver Nuggets
The Washington Wizards are fresh off its second 31-point loss within the last week after the New York Knicks became the latest team to dominate inside Capital One Arena on Tuesday night. While the focus will remain on retaining its lottery pick with Washington tied with Brooklyn for the fourth-best odds to win the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, per Tankathon, the recent stretch has allowed a chance for another young piece to gradually emerge.
One highlight has been the improved play from rookie Will Riley over the last two weeks. His trio of threes against Denver on Jan. 22 marked a new season-high at the time as he finished with 13 points in 21 minutes, while he matched that output from distance in the first 31-point loss against the Lakers, then capitalized on extended run in the second half after playing in all but six minutes where he posted career-highs in points (18), made threes (4), rebounds (6) and assists (6) in a four-point win against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Riley followed it up with another career-high performance in Thursday's upset against Detroit, finishing with a team-high 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go with six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals.
Over his last four games, Riley is averaging 17 points on 45.5% shooting from the field and 44% from three, along with five rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals.
"I feel like I've been getting more comfortable each game," Riley said following the win vs. Sacramento. "I'm just trying to get 1% better every day, honestly."
Head coach Brian Keefe pointed to the Illinois product as a rotation piece "who has really grown and developed over the year," pointing to his 26 points per game across three appearances with the Capital City Go-Go this season.
“I think that's prepared him for the moments that he's shown lately,” Keefe said during a radio appearance on Wednesday. “And he's been in the rotation here for probably good month stretch. Guy [who] can kind of score at three levels, make threes, get into the mid range and use his pivoting which is really unique with his footwork. And then guys capable of making plays for others with his processing ability.”
Riley is averaging 9.4 points on 38.3% shooting from three in 21 minutes over his last ten games.
The good news is that Will Riley's role likely does not see much change, if at all, following the front office's decision to acquire ten-time All-Star forward Anthony Davis ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, and the top-eight protected pick still in the fold ahead of the offseason, Keefe and the coaching staff will be inclined to see how the young pieces mesh alongside new Wizards, Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
"He's got good length and size, almost 6-foot-9, causing disruptions on the court. His defense is getting better. [I] think he's just getting better as the time is coming and he's taking advantage of his time here," Keefe said of Riley.