Eugene Omoruyi

wasmsqueri

Interim head coach Brian Keefe and Eugene Omoruyi spoke to the media following Sunday afternoon's matchup against the Boston Celtics.

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Media Availability: Brian Keefe and Eugene Omoruyi | 04/14/24

Eugene Omoruyi recorded a career-high 26 points and dished out 5 assists against the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon.

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Highlights: Eugene Omoruyi sets career-high with 26 points at Celtics | 04/14/24

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waskvargas

Washington, D.C. – The Washington Wizards announced today that they have converted the two-way contract of forward Eugene Omoruyi to a standard NBA contract.

In 27 games with Washington this season, Omoruyi is averaging 4.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 7.6 minutes while shooting a career-best .490 from the field. The 6-7 forward has also appeared in 12 games (all starts) for the Capital City Go-Go, the Wizards’ NBA G League affiliate, averaging 20.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting .508 from the field.

On Feb. 4 vs. Phoenix, he totaled a season-high 16 points, three assists, and three steals while grabbing a career-best 10 rebounds off the bench for the Wizards.

Omoruyi holds career averages of 5.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 71 games (six starts) over three seasons with Dallas, Oklahoma City, Detroit, and Washington.

The Oregon product originally signed a two-way contract with Washington on July 12, 2023.

wizards-convert-eugene-omoruyi-to-standard-nba-contract

Wizards Convert Eugene Omoruyi To Standard NBA Contract

Luke Askew

The Washington Wizards (9-41) will have their hands full on Friday night as they take on the team with the best record in the NBA, the Boston Celtics (39-12). Here's everything you need to know.

WHERE: TD Garden (Boston, MA)WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ETTV: Monumental Sports NetworkRADIO: Team 980 & The Wizards App

WIZARDS:Marvin Bagley III (low back contusion -- out)Isaiah Livers (right hip; joint capsule inflammation -- out)Patrick Baldwin Jr. (right ankle sprain -- questionable)

CELTICS:Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness -- questionable)

Eugene Omoruyi is one of the three Wizards players on a two-way roster spot, meaning he goes back and forth between the Capital City Go-Go (G League) and the Wizards. With Marvin Bagley III sidelined due to injury, Omoruyi has gotten some extended run in the last two games, checking in as the primary reserve big man. It's an opportunity he hasn't let slip past him.

In the first of those two games, Omoruyi made a big impact, posting a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double and adding three assists and three steals. Last game, the scoring wasn't there, but he still made all of the little plays that bring energy to the floor. He scored three points, grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists, and notched three steals -- the classic 3/3/3/3 stat line.

Those types of numbers are indicative of how Omoruyi plays. He works as hard as anyone on the court, bringing instant energy off the bench. Even when the shot isn't going in, he's finding ways to make an impact in other areas.

Against Boston, Omoruyi will likely have another chance to get on the court and show what he's got.

Corey Kispert is one guy who seems to get better each and every week for the Wizards. Improvement has been a constant theme for the third-year swingman, but his last game was one of the most impressive games he's had in a Wizards uniform.

Kispert was giving the Cleveland Cavaliers a steady diet of buckets over the course of all four quarters. He was attacking the cup, shooting the three-ball well, and operating as Kyle Kuzma's main scoring partner. He poured in 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and 4-of-9 shooting from deep to go along with seven rebounds and two assists.

In order for the Wizards to keep pace with the Celtics offensively, Kispert will have to provide a spark once again.

The Celtics are one of the most talented teams in the NBA. There's a reason their record is what it is. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the two best players on the team. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White anchor the backcourt on both ends of the floor. Their bench is solid. But the key to unlocking the Celtics' best looks all season long has been Kristaps Porzingis.

Washington fans know as well as anyone how dangerous Porzingis can be when he's stretching the floor. His 3-point shooting ability pulls the opposing bigs away from the rim and opens up the entirety of the court for his teammates.

It's easier said than done, but the key to limiting Porzingis is taking him out of his rhythm early. If he knocks down a couple of threes in the first quarter, he's a tough guy to contain. Watch how the Wizards aim to remove Porzingis from the Celtics' offense. It likely will involve running him off the 3-point line and not letting him get comfortable.

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Preview: Wizards head to Boston for matchup with Celtics

In the first iteration of the 2023-24 Washington Wizards player previews, we took a look at the backcourt situation heading into the season. Now, it's time to go over the longer perimeter players. Here's a look at the Wizards' wings.

To start things off, let's first go over the youngest player on the Wizards roster: The 19-year-old Bilal Coulibaly.

Drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Coulibaly is as intriguing as young prospects come. He was 18 years old on draft night, but he has a poise that goes far beyond his age. A lot of that comes with playing professional basketball overseas prior to entering the NBA. He didn't go to college and play with kids between the ages of 18-22. He was playing professional basketball with grown men.

In both Summer League and preseason, Coulibaly showed why he was taken so early in the draft. His length, IQ, and athleticism make him a nightmare defensively, and on offense, even though he's raw, the tools are there.

The defensive end of the court is where Coulibaly will make the quickest impact. There's an argument to be made that he's already one of the team's top perimeter defenders -- a consideration he earned during the Wizards' four preseason games. He started in each game and immediately took on the task of guarding the opponent's best player. He racked up 11 steals and three blocks over his four games (despite only averaging 23 minutes per game).

Take a look at this play. Coulibaly contains Pascal Siakam (a 29-year-old 2x All-Star) off the dribble and then times his jump perfectly, sending the ball out of bounds after a vicious swat:

If you don't believe me about Coulibaly's defense, let's check in with Kyle Kuzma:

Speaking of Kuzma, let's talk about his new role on the team. As the lone returner from last season's Big 3, Kuzma will have to shoulder a heavy offensive load. Thankfully, he appears ready to do so as he's coming off the best year of his relatively young career. Last season, Kuzma averaged personal-bests in points (21.2) and assists (3.7), all while maintaining a respectable efficiency mark (44.8% shooting from the field).

"I know a lot of times, most nights I'm gonna have number one, primary defenders on me every night," said Kuzma when asked about his role on media day. "When you're in the type of position I'm in, you have to produce every night and be consistent with it. For me, that's something I'm really looking forward to."

Patrick Baldwin came to the Wizards over the summer in the same trade as Ryan Rollins. After being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft, he spent his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors. Now, Baldwin is ready for a new opportunity.

Baldwin's biggest assets are his length and shooting ability. Any time you have a guy that's 6-foot-9 and can shoot the ball from deep in a variety of situations, it's a luxury.

After the Wizards' third preseason game (Baldwin's first), Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. spoke about what Baldwin brings to the table with his shooting, even on nights when the ball isn't finding the bottom of the net.

"He didn't make the open ones," said Unseld Jr. referring to Baldwin's 0-for-3 night from behind the arc. "But I liked that he didn't shy away from them. The ball found him in rhythm, he stepped up, took the right types of shots. He's a guy that creates that spacing that we need -- that we thrive in -- just because of the gravity of his shooting."

Deni Avdija is one of the most fascinating players on this Wizards roster. Despite being only 22 years old, he's the longest-tenured Wizards player. To put it simply: He's been hooping at Capital One Arena longer than any other member of the team. He also has a great opportunity to take a major step forward this season.

Last year was Avdija's best as a pro, but there was still plenty of room for growth. Offensively, he looked more confident with the ball in his hands, but the jumper didn't fall at a high rate. Defensively, he flashed elite potential and the ability to guard one through four, but he often got himself in foul trouble.

These are normal hurdles for young players to get over, and so far, Avdija has improved each year he's been in the league. There's reason to believe there will be a steady dose of improvement once again this year.

Avdija only played in two preseason games for the Wizards, but each game left a lot for Wizards fans to love. In his first game, he was a shutdown defender and did so without fouling.

"I thought Deni's effort was tremendous," said Unseld Jr. after the game. "He played a very physical game, and I thought he was very disciplined. Didn't foul. That was a good sign."

In his second game, Avdija looked the part of a much-improved scorer. His handle was tighter than it was last year, and his jumper had more lift. He finished the game with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 shooting from deep, despite only playing 20 minutes.

On July 12 of this year, the Wizards signed Eugene Omoruyi to one of their three two-way contracts. This means Omoruyi will spend the season going back and forth between the Wizards and their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.

Omoruyi is a delight to watch. At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, he's built like an outside linebacker but moves like a fleet-footed wing. He can guard nearly all five positions on the defensive end and he never takes a play off. He's one of the highest-energy players on the roster, and it showed during the preseason.

Playing in three of the four preseason games, and only playing during the fourth quarter, Omoruyi made the most of his opportunities. He scored 16 points in the final 12 minutes in two of his three games. He always knows how to make his mark on the court.

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Washington Wizards Player Previews: What about the Wings?

Wes Unseld Jr., Eugene Omoruyi, and Daniel Gafford spoke to the media following practice on Wednesday.

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Media Availability: Wes Unseld Jr., Eugene Omoruyi, and Daniel Gafford | 10/11/2023

wasatemperly

WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington Wizards announced today that they have signed forward Eugene Omoruyi to a two-way contract.

Omoruyi (6-7, 244 pounds) has appeared in 44 career NBA games with the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Detroit Pistons. Omoruyi split time with the Thunder and Pistons in 2022-23, finishing the season in Detroit with averages of 9.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 17 games while posting overall averages of 7.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game between the two teams.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Omoruyi signed a two-way contract with Dallas in 2021 after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Oregon.&nbsp; He appeared in four games with the Mavericks and averaged 15.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in eight games for the Texas Legends (the Mavericks’ G League affiliate).