Wizards’ Will Riley reveals key tips from Khris Middleton after win against Kings

ByNBAUSA


WASHINGTON. DC — After obtaining defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers at home on friday, Washington Wizards won a game they shouldn’t have won on paper at Capital One Arena on Sunday. It hurt them in the standings, but it was a step in the right direction for the youngsters Wizards players like Will Riley and AJ Johnson.

After Sunday’s 116-112 win over the Sacramento Kings, Riley revealed how the veterans Chris Middleton and Anthony Gill have helped him grow in his rookie season.

“The routine and the way you carry yourself. Chris has a very good routine, he comes in very early,” said the 19-year-old. “He’s done the same routine his whole career. I felt like building a routine and character from AG. He instilled a lot of great character in me. How you treat people, how you talk to people. He’s a very important person that I have in my life.”

Middleton and Gill are the only two players left in Washington over the age of 30, and Middleton’s days in the capital may be numbered. The organization probably will buy out the 34-year-old after Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, according to The Athletic.

The The Wizards acquired Middleton from the Milwaukee Bucks in last year’s Kyle Kuzma trade, a deal that also brought them Johnson. Middleton was a no-brainer, as he is a $31 million cap hitter last season and is playing on a $33.2 million cap option this season. Even though his contract expires this summer, it’s still difficult to trade in today’s cash-strapped era. His salary doesn’t match his production, as he’s averaging 10.3 points on 43.3 percent shooting (32.6 percent from 3-point range) with four rebounds and 3.3 assists in 24.4 minutes. By contrast, Miami Heat guard Tyler Hero makes $31 million and is averaging 21.9 points on 49.7 percent shooting (35.8 percent from 3-point range) with 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 31.7 minutes.

That’s why Washington is likely to buy Middleton out instead of trading him. The former NBA champion would make more sense as a bench player on a contending team at this point in his career, and being released would free up more minutes for the Wizards’ young players. On January 22, team president Michael Winger specifically identified Riley and Johnson as players the organization wants to assess more ahead, via Monumental Sports Network.

Sunday’s game was productive from that perspective. Riley scored a game-high 18 points (6-15 FG, 4-8 3-pointer) with six rebounds, a career-high six assists, one steal and just one turnover in 30 minutes, while Johnson had a game-high 17 points (7-13 FG, 2-5 3-pointer, 2-5 3-pointer, 2 assists and one assist). However, the sophomore guard also recorded seven turnovers.

Washington finished the game with a bench of Riley, Johnson, Gill, guard Sharif Cooper and big man Scales Labissiere, and beat a short-handed Kings lineup that featured multiple All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. That entire group of Wizards, except for Gill, played together for a long time for the Capital City Go-Go’s (the Wizards’ G League affiliate) this season.

Playing that lineup instead of the starters gave Washington the best chance to lose, as that would be the best outcome for its lottery odds. Now that he does win, he’s tied with the Brooklyn Nets (13-35) for the fourth-worst record in the NBA, while the Kings (12-39) are the worst. The Wizards need to finish no higher than fourth-worst in the league this season to guarantee keeping their top eight protected picks.

On the other hand, there is plenty of time to lose more games and secure that pick before the regular season ends in April. In addition, Riley showed his potential by scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter of a close contest. That’s significant for a player who had just three 12-plus outings in January.

In addition, Riley’s comments about Middleton and Gill show why the Wizards have kept more 30-year-olds on the roster since last season despite their primary mission being to develop young players. Experience leads to wisdom, and the veterans share that wisdom with the young guys. Middleton’s routine and Gill’s character may not be the main reasons why Riley played the best game of his career on Sunday, but those qualities are essential to long-term success in the league.

AJ Johnson is 100 percent realistic about his best performance of the season

Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson (4) dunks during the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Capital One Arena.
© Daniel Cucin Jr. – Imagn Images

Riley is averaging 14.9 minutes in 40 games this season, but Johnson needed more playing time Sunday. The 21-year-old is averaging just 7.9 minutes in 24 NBA appearances, which isn’t ideal for a 2024 first-round pick.

Not only did Johnson show off his primary ability to press the rim, but he also threw himself out to open shooters and made several 3-pointers. The native of California opened the postgame about not only sealing the victory along with his Go-Go teammates, but doing so against established NBA talents like LaVine and DeRozan.

“It’s definitely a good feeling to go out there and play against the big players … To compete … It’s a blessing,” he said.

If Johnson continues to get rotation minutes and progress well, especially against playoff-caliber teams, it will give Washington’s bullpen something to think about as they decide who to keep long-term.

Next up for the Wizards is a home date with the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.





2026-02-02 21:35:00

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