This Washington Wizards rookie is taking the NBA by storm with is recent stretch of impressive play.
that suggest team success is right around the corner to developing young talent that has taken the leap toward stardom, there’s reason for optimism. However, one of the more encouraging developments this year has been the stellar play of the Wizards’ rookies.
Tre Johnson has stolen the majority of the rookie spotlight in D.C., and rightfully so. The talented 6-foot-5, 19-year-old has flashed his immense shooting upside night in and night out, along with displaying a very interesting scoring feel that could benefit the team down the line.Washington selected Riley with the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft with the expectation that he would take a while to come around. His tools jumped off the page instantly, but his lack of physical development and raw skill set suggested that he would be some time away from making a real impact in the NBA. As a result, Riley spent the early part of the season bouncing between the G League and the NBA, taking any opportunity he could to get on the floor. Because of this, he struggled to find his rhythm with the Wizards early on, posting averages of just 2.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game through his first 13 appearances. To put it frankly, the 20-year-old looked like a 20-year-old playing against grown men, struggling to find ways to make an impact. However, with Washington’s recent wave of roster changes and injury issues, opportunity has opened up for Riley to make an impact — and make an impact he has. Feb 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Will Riley takes a shot during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn ImagesSlowly but surely, as the season has progressed, Riley has begun to look more comfortable and natural on an NBA floor. He’s still had his ups and downs, particularly when being asked to play more off the ball — something that could hurt him down the line. But for the most part, he has started to look like the player the Wizards envisioned when they selected him in the first round.Over his past 11 games, Riley is posting averages of 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, doing so on impressive shooting splits of 45.9% from the field, 39.1% from three, and 75.8% from the free-throw line. His numbers are by no means groundbreaking, but they suggest development and paint the picture of what he could become with continued growth.is still unclear, as he struggles at times to assert himself when not given the keys to the offense, but for now, his play has been encouraging at worst. Make sure you bookmark Washington Wizards on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!Owen Jury is currently a writer for On SI. Jury is a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia studying journalism. Jury is still figuring out what his end goal is, but he is definitely excited about his future in journalism.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
LeBron James meetup with Jayden Daniels has fans speculating he's going to WizardsAfter the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Celtics, LeBron James shared a viral postgame moment with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels at Crypto.com Arena, sparking free agency speculation and heated fan reactions.
Read more »
Wizards vs Hawks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight’s NBA GameWizards vs. Hawks predictions and NBA picks. Jalen Johnson leads the way for Atlanta on Tuesday, February 24.
Read more »
Jonathan Kuminga Not in Hawks Starting Lineup Against The WizardsThe Atlanta Hawks continue a massive home stretch tonight when they host the Washington Wizards. While the Hawks and Wizards will be forever linked by the trade
Read more »
Trae Young returns to Atlanta for the first time since blockbuster trade to the WizardsTrae Young has returned to Atlanta for the first time since the Hawks dealt their star guard to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster trade last month
Read more »
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger rebuts Trump’s claims of a thriving nation, says costs remain highHer message is one Democrats plan to carry nationwide ahead of the midterm elections.
Read more »
Ex-Warrior Kuminga steals the show in Atlanta debut, leading Hawks past Wizards 119-98Kuminga scored a season-high 27 points, including three 3-pointers, to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Read more »