Q. Your first summer in the NBA after getting drafted. What was your experience like in Vegas, and how well prepared do you feel like you are for your first season?
WILL RILEY: I feel like we're pretty prepared. It was very good to be intentional in my work. I feel like this summer got a lot stronger. Just been focused on my battle, and I feel like it's been pretty intentional for me.
Q. Being with the Wizards specifically, what are your first impressions how the organization looks and what kind of culture they're trying to set up?
WILL RILEY: It's a winning culture for sure and a development culture, a development program as well. So I feel like we're young and we're growing all together. So I feel like we're in this together and we're super excited.
Q. Let's talk about competitiveness. Obviously that's been a recurring theme from everybody from Will down through BK. How do you go about differentiating yourself in a group that has so many wings and guys at your position?
WILL RILEY: I feel like we've got a lot of guys in that position for sure, but I feel like the way I can differentiate myself is I do a lot of things on the ball, as well as off the ball. I'm a very good cutter, very good moving off the ball, very good offensive rebounder, so I feel like that's the way I can differentiate myself.
Q. Also the second game in particular, you really had a couple of standout moments where you just found your shot. Where are you most comfortable in the flow of the offense, especially if the tempo is going to be ratcheted up this year?
WILL RILEY: I feel like I'm the most comfortable wherever the coach wants me to be. I feel like that's the honest answer.
Q. Will, you're joining a team that's got some vets. We were just talking to Khris and CJ about the lessons they're trying to impart. What have you noticed from talking to them and watching them?
WILL RILEY: Yeah, just seeing their routine, I feel like that's what I've picked up the most. Just seeing how well they recover from each practice and just their routine and how to build off them and they're very open to guys asking them questions, which is really good, so you can always come to them whenever you need something.
Q. Take us back to when you were 10 years old and being in the NBA a goal of yours and now on the precipice and the night before training camp begins, what would you say to that 10-year-old self?
WILL RILEY: I mean, this is my goal ever since I was like a kid, so it was very crazy. It's all been a blur so far. But just trying to stay level-headed through it all. Just super excited to start off training camp.
Q. Schematically thinking going into tomorrow's training camp, BK said it was going to be very focused on the defensive side of things. What are you approaching tomorrow with in terms of your competitive mindset?
WILL RILEY: Yeah, that's been a big goal of mine, getting better at my defense. So that's what I've been really working on throughout this off-season, so I'm super excited to really attack that this training camp and just grow.
Q. You mentioned improving on the defensive end. When it comes to the offense, obviously you can put in the work, working on the jump shot, ball handling. How do you go about in your first hybrid off-season after Summer League to try to work on the defensive end of things to get better ahead of training camp?
WILL RILEY: I'd say the biggest thing would be probably off the court is the best way to work on it, like in the weight room. Your food diet, just getting stronger. Especially for me, I feel like that's what's helped me the most on the defensive end, just becoming more flexible.
But obviously there's stuff we can do on the court to work on that. But I've been doing a mix of both, and I feel like that's what's helped me the most.
Q. How are your juggling skills, kind of the hand-eye coordination of the defensive end?
WILL RILEY: Not that I know of, but I hope maybe it something has to help with it. Anything that could help would be very appreciated.
Q. Favorite artist?
WILL RILEY: Drake is probably my favorite artist, but -- yeah, I'd say Drake.
Q. Candy?
WILL RILEY: My favorite candy? Coffee Crisp.
Q. All Dressed roast or ketchup?
WILL RILEY: Ketchup.
Q. One of the things that your head coach at Illinois, Brad Underwood, said that you were the second best tough shotmaker he ever coached. How do you envision that playing out here in your rookie season? What do you think is going to translate early on for you with that?
WILL RILEY: I feel like it's going to translate very well just because I feel like just shotmaking in general can translate at any level. I feel like also my IQ will translate very good to this next level.
Q. Was there anyone you worked with over the off-season, a player, coach, trainer, that really stood out to you?
WILL RILEY: I worked a lot, me and Tre did a lot of workouts with each other, and I also worked with Coach Capes on our team. He's been working with me a lot. Just like his ability to, like, adjust my shot and just really work with me with that has been helping me a lot.
Yeah, just working with Tre also, just us being so young, growing together, I feel like we can be very really competitive and shoot with each other and just try to make each other better.
Q. When you talk about Capes adjusting your shot, what was he doing?
WILL RILEY: Just the little things that he sees in my jump shot, just getting lower on my jump shot. Just trying to make things more natural for me. Not necessarily really adjusting anything to, like, my actual form, just trying to get things built into being more natural.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports