The WNBA star Angel Reese had a proud big-sister moment Monday (March 2) night. Her younger brother, Julian Reese, made his NBA regular-season debut with the Washington Wizards. More importantly, he didn’t just check in, but was in the starting lineup for the Wizards’ game against the Houston Rockets.
Angel Reese Has a Heartwarming Reaction to Her Brother Julian Reese’s NBA Debut
Julian signed a two-way contract with the Wizards on Saturday, March 1, and just days later, his name appeared on the team’s starting lineup graphic on the Wizards’ official X handle.
Angel, a two-time WNBA All-Star, didn’t waste a second reacting. She replied to the post with an emotional emoji, letting the moment speak for itself.
That wasn’t her first public show of support. When the Wizards announced his two-way signing over the weekend, Angel responded with a heartfelt message:
“My baby brother🥺Ugh I’m so proud of you! Your journey has never been easy & you’ve always stayed the course! Let’s go Juju!”
In his debut game, Julian posted two points and four rebounds with 1-of-3 field goal efficiency. For Julian, the road to this moment has been anything but straightforward.
The 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft after wrapping up a four-year college career at the University of Maryland.
A former Terrapin standout, he ranks second on Maryland’s all-time rebounds list with 1,015 boards and joined Len Elmore as the only players in program history to record at least 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in their careers.
After the draft, he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025 Summer League before joining Raptors 905 in the G League.
Through the 2025-26 regular season, Julian averaged 8.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 17.5 minutes per game in 24 games. His profile mirrors his sister’s in many ways — elite rebounding instincts, interior scoring touch, defensive versatility, and a high-volume finishing ability around the rim.
Like Angel, he plays forward, and he has built his reputation on toughness in the paint.
Now he steps into a Wizards team searching for stability. Washington has dropped five straight games and is navigating a turbulent stretch. Their latest 123-118 loss to the Rockets came with added drama after veteran guard Trae Young, recently acquired from the Atlanta Hawks, was ejected despite not yet making his debut for the franchise.
The Wizards’ next matchup comes Tuesday against the Orlando Magic as they look to snap the skid.
Angel has already established herself as a major name in the WNBA. Now, “Juju” gets his chance to carve out his own identity at the next level. His debut start was a personal milestone and a family moment, broadcast in real time for the basketball world to see.
