Over the years, we have seen plenty of heartwarming moments where WNBA players have shown their respect for NBA legends. Whether it is Sue Bird celebrating with LeBron James or Breanna Stewart sharing the court with Stephen Curry at All-Star events, these moments have constantly reminded us that basketball is truly one big family. Recently, another such moment caught everyone’s attention.
Angel Reese’s Recent Courtside Interaction Is Going Viral
Before the NBA London game on Jan. 18 between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies, fans witnessed something special.
Right there on the court, WNBA player Angel Reese was greeting and embracing 12-time All-Star Isiah Thomas. The mutual respect between these two was evident to everyone.
.@Reese10Angel and Isiah Thomas catching up on the court in London. pic.twitter.com/hcIDl8EW6m
— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) January 18, 2026
While Angel Reese clearly showed her respect to Thomas during their courtside meeting, what many people don’t know is that this respect goes both ways.
Last year in May, Reese became the fastest player in league history to record 500 points and 500 rebounds in her career, and she achieved this incredible milestone during a Chicago Sky loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Even though her team did not win that game, Thomas made sure to share this achievement on his Instagram.
This clearly showed everyone that he has been following her career closely and also rooting for her success.
Getting support from Zeke is definitely a big deal. If we see that Thomas joined the NBA in 1981 when he was selected as the second overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in the 1981 NBA Draft, and he went on to lead the legendary “Bad Boys” Pistons to two NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. He also earned Finals MVP honors in 1990.
Now, coming to Reese’s journey. If we look at last season, she averaged 14.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. One thing was that her performance dipped a bit, and the Sky didn’t perform well either, finishing with a disappointing 10-34 record and missing the playoffs entirely. It was a challenging year for both Reese and the franchise.
Towards the end of the 2025 season, the relationship between her and the team became strained, which worried many Sky fans. But last December, it was revealed that she’s been working on her relationship with the team.
“I’m under contract, so yes, I plan on returning to the Sky. I’m continuing to talk to (coach) Tyler (Marsh) and building that relationship with (general manager) Jeff (Pagliocca) and Tyler,” said Reese as per the “Athletic.”
Moments like Reese embracing Thomas serve as a reminder of how basketball continues to connect players across leagues.
