The Washington Wizards have officially gone three-for-three in the last two drafts. The 2024 class trio of Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Bub Carrington has proven to be true pieces of Washington’s rebuild. The 2025 class has shown similarities, with Tre Johnson and Jamir Watkins providing crucial minutes. However, no one has been as impressive lately as the rookie forward Will Riley, who may be up for a huge role moving into next season.
Wizards Rookie May Be Up For A Massive Role Next Season
Riley didn’t show much at the beginning of the season. He was limited to only 6.4 minutes across 13 games during October and November. However, once Washington fully embraced the tank this season, Riley saw a massive increase in his minutes, averaging around 18 minutes through December and January. Flash forward to the present, and the 21st overall pick has been playing over 25 per contest through 10 games in February. With that, the forward has exploded onto the scene.
Riley’s Late Dominance
The Illinois product has been producing at elite rates for a late first-round pick. The Wizards have been letting the bench get plenty of action as of late, and Riley seems to be the second unit’s first option. Across his games in February, Riley has averaged 14.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. While he may not stuff the stat sheet, he’s a true three-level scorer. He’s shooting 47.7% from the field, with a 38.5% three point percentage.
This month, Riley has scored 20 twice, including a career-high 27 points against the Brooklyn Nets. With that, only three games this month have the forward had less than 10 points. Additionally, he’s only shot under 40% in just two contests. The Wizards have been plagued with inconsistent scoring, but Riley seems to be a steady option moving forward.
He may not be showcasing the dominance of Cooper Flagg or Kon Knueppel, but there’s no denying his critical impact on the Wizards. He’s outpacing multiple players who were selected in front of him now. Much like George, Riley should easily be considered one of, or THE biggest steal of the 2025 class.
His New Role…
Feb 20, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Will Riley (27) celebrates a dunk with guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
Washington is in desperate need of a true, primary scorer coming off the bench next year. Regardless of who they choose with their lottery pick this offseason, Riley can and will add true production value. Players like Carrington, Justin Champagnie, Watkins, and Bilal Coulibaly will provide the bench with just about everything. However, scoring isn’t their strong suit. With Riley, these players can focus on their strengths: Carrington as the lead distributor and secondary scorer, Champagnie’s all-around hustle with Watkins, and Coulibaly providing elite defense.
Players like Cam Whitmore and Carrington could be worthy of that first option. What separates them from Riley is that both have proven not be consistent like the forward. The rookie has proven he can and should carry the offensive weight for the second unit next season.
The Last Word
This new-look Wizards squad is going to really turn some heads. While Riley’s impact may be relatively under the radar at the moment, it won’t be too much longer before he gets put in the spotlight. If Washington does right by him, he could become a real core piece of the team moving forward. The starters will demand so much attention, but Riley’s scoring dominance will no doubt garner the same respect soon.
Featured Image: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images