Julian Reese dominated with 20 rebounds, crediting sister Angel's relentless advice and support for his historic rookie season success.
Washington Wizards rookie Julian Reese delivered the best performance of his young NBA career Thursday night, and afterward, he made it clear that much of his motivation comes from his older sister, WNBA star Angel Reese.
The 22-year-old forward recorded a dominant double-double with 18 points and 20 rebounds in Washington’s 122–112 loss to the Utah Jazz. While the result didn’t go the Wizards’ way, Reese’s performance marked a historic milestone.
His 20 rebounds are the most by any rookie in the NBA this season and the most by a Wizards rookie since Tom Gugliotta pulled down 20 boards in January 1993.
After the game, Reese spoke about the constant support he receives from his sister, who has emerged as one of the biggest stars in women’s basketball.
“She hits me up every game before and after every game,” Reese told reporters. “Just telling me what I need to do, watching the game, sometimes texting me at halftime and stuff like that.”
Angel Reese has built a reputation as one of the most dominant rebounders in the WNBA, and that influence clearly shows in her brother’s playing style.
The Chicago Sky forward has averaged a double-double in each of her first two WNBA seasons and has posted at least 10 points and 10 rebounds per game for five straight years, dating back to her sophomore season in college.
Julian admitted that the advice from his sister can sometimes feel nonstop, but he said it comes from a place of love and support.
“Sometimes I try to get her off me a little bit,” he said with a smile. “But it’s great having a sister like that that’s always pushing me and trying to see the best for her brother.”
Reese’s breakout game is also part of a promising start to his NBA journey. The undrafted rookie signed a two-way contract with the Wizards after spending time in the G League with Raptors 905.
In his first three NBA appearances, he has averaged 9.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game while quickly carving out a role in Washington’s frontcourt rotation.
His 20-rebound performance also created a unique piece of basketball history. Julian and Angel Reese are now the first brother-sister duo to record 20-rebound games in the NBA and WNBA, both accomplishing the feat during their rookie seasons.
For Julian Reese, the path to the NBA has been far less straightforward than his sister’s rise to stardom. However, performances like Thursday’s show why the Wizards took a chance on the Maryland product.
As Washington continues to evaluate young talent late in the season, Reese’s rebounding instincts and relentless energy could help him earn a longer stay in the league — with one of the WNBA’s brightest stars cheering him on every step of the way.