On Saturday, the Washington Wizards announced they have signed Julian Reese, the younger brother of Chicago Sky power forward Angel Reese, to a two-way contract.
For Julian, the 22-year-old forward whose professional path has been a grind through Summer League and the G League, it marked his first real foothold in the NBA.
On X, Angel posted her unfiltered joy: “My baby brotherUgh I’m so proud of you! Your journey has never been easy & you’ve always stayed the course! Let’s go Juju! @Reese10Julian.” The message came moments after the Wizards‘ official announcement welcoming Julian to “The District.”
For a player who went undrafted out of the University of Maryland in 2025, that two-way deal is a milestone earned through persistence, adaptability, and steady development. It’s also a reminder of how nonlinear the road to the NBA can be for overlooked talent.
For both siblings, basketball has been more than a sport. It’s a family legacy rooted in Baltimore.
Julian and Angel grew up playing together at St. Frances Academy before heading to the University of Maryland, where the younger Reese became a cornerstone of the Terrapins‘ frontcourt, finishing his college career with averages that showcased his rebounding and defensive presence.
Angel‘s own ascent in professional basketball, from LSU national champion to first-round WNBA draft pick and All-Star, has been well documented, but she’s also been an unabashed supporter of her brother’s journey at every step.
When Julian first signed with the Lakers as an undrafted free agent in the summer of 2025, she celebrated the opportunity with a social media post simply saying, “OPPORTUNITY. COME ON JU.”
From undrafted to NBA contract
Julian‘s professional story began in the summer after his senior year at Maryland. Despite a strong collegiate resume, he finished with more than 1,000 points and rebounds and helped lead the Terrapins to the Sweet Sixteen, but NBA teams passed on him in the 2025 Draft.
That didn’t close doors. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA Summer League, showing enough promise to stay on teams’ radars even without being selected.
Shortly afterward, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors, a type of training camp deal designed to funnel players to the G League.
Toronto waived him with plans for him to develop with its affiliate, Raptors 905, where he spent the 2025-26 season.
There, in 38 regular-season games, Julian averaged around 7.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in just over 17 minutes per night and shot efficiently from the field, leading the team in field goal percentage.
Hosting double-figure scoring efforts and multiple double-doubles, he made the most of his opportunity in Canada’s NBA development circuit.
That body of work, combined with his size (6-foot-9, roughly 230 pounds) and rebounding instincts, was enough to attract interest from the Wizards, who signed him to a two-way contract on Feb. 28.
Under the NBA’s two-way rules, he’ll split time between the Wizards and their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, with the chance to appear in up to 50 NBA games this season.
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