Angel Reese and mother watch brother Julian courtside at Pelicans game
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Angel Reese and her mother sat courtside as brother Julian's Pelicans lost 115-109 to the Timberwolves.
Julian didn't play; the outing came days after her WNBA Finals loss.
Background
Julian Reese is a 6-foot-7 forward on a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, undrafted in 2025 and previously with the Washington Wizards. Angel Reese is an Atlanta Dream WNBA star and the reigning WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, and Julian's sister. The outing drew notice because it came less than a week after Atlanta's 68-63 Game 7 WNBA Finals defeat to the Golden State Valkyries, and because New Orleans signed Julian after he averaged 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in 13 games with the Wizards last season.
How it unfolded
- 2025Julian Reese went undrafted, signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for Summer League, then an Exhibit 10 deal with the Toronto Raptors, and later a two-way deal with the Washington Wizards.
- Mar 2026Angel Reese attended a Wizards-Magic game in Orlando to watch Julian, who had nine points and eight rebounds.
- Oct 31, 2026Julian made his only Pelicans appearance so far, against the Atlanta Hawks, playing three minutes with 2 points and 1 rebound.
- Nov 5, 2026Angel Reese visited her alma mater Louisiana State University, where the Tigers honored her with a crown, flowers, a 'Bayou Barbie' sash and a tribute video.
- Nov 6, 2026Angel Reese and mother Angel Webb Reese sat courtside at the Smoothie King Center for the Pelicans-Timberwolves game; Julian did not play in the 115-109 loss.
Key terms
- two-way contract
- A professional sports contract where an athlete's salary depends on which league the athlete is assigned to play in.
- undrafted
- Selections made by teams in the first of the two rounds of the annual NBA draft of eligible players.
- Exhibit 10 deal
- The lowest allowed NBA salary for an experienced player, set by league rules based on years of service.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The Pelicans' Instagram caption read 'Bayou Barbie in the building supporting her brother.'
Still unverified
Sources disagree on Julian Reese's listed height, citing 6-foot-7 versus 6-foot-9.