Julian Reese arrived in Washington last season as a late‑year reinforcement, a quiet addition to a roster battered by injuries. By the time the season ended, he looked less like a temporary addition and more like a player the Wizards can actually use regularly.
Reese played just 13 games for the Wizards, but he made the most of his time on the court. He averaged 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in 30.9 minutes per game, giving Washington an interior presence they had been missing all year.
During those 13 games, the Wizards won just once, and that victory was largely due to Reese’s play. Washington defeated the Utah Jazz 133-110 while Reese scored 26 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.
Reese also tied NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal by becoming the fastest player to grab 100 rebounds in their career.
Fighting For Roster Spot
Reese is on a two-way contract with the Wizards, which was signed on February 28, 2026. This contract has him splitting time between the Wizards and their G League team, the Capital City Go-Go. Reese will be allowed to play up to 50 NBA games per season while continuing to develop in the G League.
As of now, Reese is on Washington’s Summer League team, and in the two games he has played so far, Reese has averaged 5.0 points and 4.5 rebounds on 50% shooting.
Reese certainly has a good chance to earn a roster spot, but the amount of playing time will likely be based on how he continues to play this summer. As a rebounder and defender, Reese has shown his worth. His offensive game can certainly improve, but he could still be an effective backup forward or center.
Reese’s Beginnings
Most people know him as the brother of WNBA star Angel Reese, but most don’t know his story. He attended the University of Maryland, where he had to earn his spot on the team.
As a freshman in the 2021-22 season, Reese averaged 5.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per night. He also started in just one game.
By the next season, he started in all but one game, upping his averages to 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. He earned an All‑Big Ten honorable mention while becoming one of the conference’s most reliable interior players.
The growth continued in his junior season. Reese averaged 13.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks, earning another All‑Big Ten honorable mention while anchoring Maryland’s frontcourt with his play.
As a senior, Reese put up averages of 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He earned another All‑Big Ten honorable mention.
After college, Reese entered the 2025 NBA Draft and went undrafted. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers for the Summer League before signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Toronto Raptors.
Reese never played for the Raptors, but he did play in 38 games for their G League team, the Raptors 905. He averaged 7.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 62.8% from the field.
His play in the G League led to the Wizards signing him. Now, it’ll be up to his play whether the Wizards keep him for good and how big a role he’ll have.
