Julian Reese Continues To Impress With Wizards

The former Maryland Terrapins star is making the most of his opportunity with the rebuilding Washington Wizards.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:38pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball player in motion, their form broken down into overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange, conveying the raw athleticism and competitive spirit of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a young basketball player's dominant rebounding performance, capturing the energy and dynamism of the game.Brooklyn Today

Julian Reese, a 22-year-old forward, has been a bright spot for the struggling Washington Wizards this season. After signing a two-way contract with the team in February, Reese has emerged as a rebounding force, averaging a double-double in his 11 games played. His outstanding play has put him in the record books, grabbing the most rebounds by an NBA player in their first 10 career games this century.

Why it matters

Reese's strong performance has earned him a place in the Wizards' long-term plans as the team looks to rebuild around young talent. With the Wizards' lack of depth at the big man position, Reese has carved out a role for himself as a source of rebounding, athleticism, and size in the paint.

The details

In 11 games played, and nine starts, Reese is averaging 31.5 minutes per contest, 11.8 points, 1.9 assists, 11.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals on 52.5% shooting from the floor. He has logged three straight double-double performances in the Wizards' past three contests. Reese's best performances came against the Utah Jazz, where he scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed 17 rebounds on March 25th, and then scored 18 and grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds on March 5th.

  • Reese signed a two-way contract with the Wizards in late February.
  • Reese has played in 11 games for the Wizards so far this season.
  • The Wizards have two games remaining in the 2025-26 season: April 14th against the Miami Heat and April 16th at the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The players

Julian Reese

A 22-year-old forward who signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards in February 2026 after a successful four-year career with the Maryland Terrapins.

Alex Sarr

A young core player for the Washington Wizards.

Anthony Davis

An all-star player who was traded to the Washington Wizards midseason.

Trae Young

An all-star player who was traded to the Washington Wizards midseason.

Will Dakwins

The general manager of the Washington Wizards.

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What they’re saying

“Reese easily fits into the long-term plans of the Wizards, but the lack of depth at the big-man position off the bench can carve out a role for Reese to easily slide into and be a source of rebounding, athleticism, and size down in the paint.”

— Will Dakwins, General Manager, Washington Wizards

What’s next

The Wizards have two games remaining in the 2025-26 season, against the Miami Heat on April 14th and the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 16th. Reese will look to continue his strong play and cement his place in the team's long-term plans.

The takeaway

Julian Reese's impressive rookie season with the Washington Wizards has earned him a spot in the team's future plans. His ability to rebound, score, and provide energy off the bench has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult season for the Wizards, and he could play a key role in the team's rebuilding efforts around young stars like Trae Young and Anthony Davis.