Angel Reese’s 3-Word Message to Brother Julian Goes Viral During Lakers Summer League Debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The NBA Summer League tipped off Saturday with the California Classic getting underway ahead of the full 30-team tournament in Las Vegas.
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After the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs opened the action, the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors followed in a matchup that featured several highly anticipated debuts — particularly for the Lakers.
While second-round pick Adou Thiero and rookie guard Bronny James were both sidelined, the Lakers’ Summer League roster still included names like Dalton Knecht, RJ Davis, Cole Swider, Eric Dixon, and Julian Reese — the younger brother of Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese.
Julian Reese played four seasons at Maryland, developing into a key starter and helping the Terrapins reach the Sweet 16 in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Despite going undrafted, he landed an Exhibit-10 deal with the Lakers as he looks to earn a shot at an NBA training camp invite later this offseason.
Reese came off the bench for L.A. and, though his minutes were limited, he converted an and-one finish through contact to score his first field goal.
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Shortly after the bucket — and with announcers noting his connection to WNBA superstar Angel Reese — his sister posted a proud three-word message on social media: “COME ON JU.”
Both Angel and Julian Reese attended the University of Maryland, staying close to their roots in Baltimore. While Angel transferred to LSU after two seasons — where she finished out her collegiate career with a national title — Julian opted to remain with the Terrapins all four years.
This past season, Julian appeared in 36 games for Maryland and averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. Much like his sister, he was a double-double machine — a trait that could translate well to an NBA roster.
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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese and her brother, former Maryland Terrapins forward Julian Reese.© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images | © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
That said, there are two key areas of his game that will need improvement to solidify his chances at the next level: three-point shooting and free-throw consistency. Reese never developed a reliable shot from beyond the arc and shot just 63% from the free-throw line over his college career.
Related: Angel Reese’s Brother Julian Gets Shout Out From Sister During Big Moments vs. Michigan
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.