will riley is set to start Tuesday for the Washington Wizards, a shift that comes as the rookie forward’s role has expanded and his production has climbed. The move follows a recent stretch in which he has turned increased minutes into scoring and playmaking, with coach Brian Keefe publicly pointing to specific areas of improvement. The decision reflects how quickly his season has changed from early limited minutes to meaningful responsibility.
Starting nod comes after a sharp production jump
Will Riley has been part of four starts this season, with three of those coming during his recent uptick in playing time. In those starts, he has provided a notable boost, averaging 16. 8 points, four rebounds, and 3. 3 assists while converting 42. 9% from beyond the arc.
Across the full season, the rookie is averaging 8. 2 points, 2. 5 rebounds, and 1. 6 assists while shooting 32. 2% from 3-point range in 55 appearances for Keefe. He has reached double figures 19 times, including a career-high 27 points on Feb. 7.
Over his last 16 appearances, his numbers have climbed: 14. 6 points, 3. 8 rebounds, and 2. 5 assists in 27 minutes per game, with 35. 4% shooting from 3-point range. In February, he ranked third among all rookies in total scoring and fifth in field goals.
Coach Brian Keefe details where Will Riley has improved
Keefe tied the rookie’s rise to tangible growth with the ball, on defense, and in how he reads the floor.
“You’ve seen his progress with the ball in his hands in different situations, ” Keefe said recently. “You’ve seen his ability to get to the free-throw line; defense is improving, his playmaking. He has a real knack for reading the game, processing the game. You can see that from all of the work he is putting in, and now it is starting to pay off. He has been really good here this last month. ”
Riley, the 21st overall pick, was highly touted out of Illinois because of his size, scoring potential, and passing ability—traits the Wizards believe are showing more consistently as his responsibilities increase.
In his own words, will riley credited confidence and repetition for the recent leap.
“Honestly, it was probably just Coach putting me in the repetitions and my team helping me, and my confidence going up, ” Riley said of his recent play. “Stuff like that has definitely helped me. I feel like that type of stuff is helping my game grow, and the results are showing. ”
From early rotation squeeze to G League minutes and back
Riley began the season out of the rotation, playing 12. 6 minutes per game through early January. With his playing time limited, the organization assigned him to the Capital City Go-Go in the G League to get extended minutes and stay in rhythm.
In five G League games, he averaged 26. 8 points, 4. 6 assists, and 3. 6 rebounds while shooting 32. 1% from 3-point range. He posted a career-high 36 points, seven assists, and five rebounds on Nov. 30 in a loss to the Greensboro Swarm.
Keefe emphasized that the Wizards and their G League affiliate operate with continuity that helps players transition back into NBA roles.
“We take a lot of pride in our coordination with our G League (team), ” Keefe said. “It is basically just all one team. They run the same stuff as us, same sets, same system. They do a great job when our guys are assigned; they are working on the same things that they’re going to work on with us. When they get the opportunity to play with the Wizards, those guys are ready. He is an example of that. ”
Quick context: why this moment matters
Riley’s season has become a case study in role expansion: limited minutes early, G League reps for rhythm, then a growing workload with the Wizards. With his playmaking and secondary ballhandling emerging alongside his scoring, Washington’s lineup flexibility has widened.
What’s next Tuesday
Tuesday’s start puts a bigger spotlight on whether he can sustain the same energy, processing, and production that fueled his last-month surge, now with the responsibility that comes with opening the game. The Wizards will be watching if the same confidence he cited continues to translate as his opportunities keep coming.
