“Mebounds,” that’s what they called her. Some laughed when they heard that “Angel Reese is now averaging more rebounds (11.7) than points (12.3)”. Others even accused her of stat-padding and making garbage time possessions. But Reese never flinched. Instead, she clapped back, saying, “Defense and rebounding win championships. And I’ve won championships at every level doing just that”. That’s true; she even won the 2023 National Championship against Caitlin Clark’s Iowa.
No amount of scrutiny can distract her from the bigger picture. She stands firm about her contributions while being confident in her skills. “How come you don’t box me out?’ It’s tough to see that, but I’ve always watched players like Dennis Rodman that did the little things that got [teams] to win championships.” And she’s not wrong. Rodman was never a scoring machine, yet he was a five-time NBA champion. He built his legacy and Hall of Fame career on the exact things that now get Reese scrutinized. Defense, effort, and elite rebounding instincts.
And let’s be real, such stat-padding accusations are not new. Even LeBron James has faced similar claims throughout his career. So Angel Reese isn’t fazed. Because apparently, rebounding isn’t just a stat for her, it’s a Reese thing. And if there is any doubt about what she has been accomplishing, here, take a look at this stat line: She’s already in the 4th position amongst the 15 most-point, 15-rebound games through a player’s first two seasons. Right behind Tina Charles, Yolanda Griffith, and Jonquel Jones, who are all MVPs.
Most 15-point, 15-rebound games through a player’s first two seasons:
1. Tina Charles (1-time MVP) — 10
2. Yolanda Griffith (1-time MVP) — 8
3. Jonquel Jones (1-time MVP) — 6
Natalie Williams — 6
5. Angel Reese — 5 (29 games remaining)
6. Candace Parker (2-time MVP) — 4… pic.twitter.com/wr5hfVQRci
— I talk hoops (@trendyhoopstars) June 28, 2025
It’s the biggest lesson that her brother Julian Reese can take from her, because more or less, he is going to have a similar path down the road. That became clear when in a postgame presser after a narrow win in Terps vs. Rams, Julian Reese said, “The rebounding thing, that runs in the family. I just think it’s like a heart thing.” That statement is as true as it can get. Because the same night, Julian Reese grabbed his 1000th rebound, and that stat put him right next to Maryland’s legend Len Elmore.
It’s a record that had been untouched for 50 years. To this achievement, “duhhhhh,” said Angel Reese, as if she already saw it coming. Now the bigger question is, as he steps into his pro career with the Lakers, will he handle the spotlight with the same calm as LeBron… or the same fire as his sister? Because just like them, the noise is coming for him, too. And so are the expectations.
Is Angel Reese Moving Like Bron?
Much like LeBron James, Angel Reese has a way of staying at the center of every major sports discussion. Whether it’s her highly publicized rivalry with Caitlin Clark or her fearless tunnel walk. She can really command attention. And she’s capitalizing on it. By 2025, she had gained over 10 million social media followers and landed endorsement deals with Reebok, Beats by Dre, and Hershey’s, earning more than $1.5 million.
It is a staggering amount that’s over 20 times her WNBA rookie salary. Sound familiar? It’s because we’ve seen this in the NBA before, with LeBron James. LeBron entered the NBA with massive hype, just like Reese, while fans compared him to a beloved legend (MJ). And just like her, initially, he didn’t get league paychecks according to his worth. To gain his worth, he even turned down $10 million from Reebok to sign a groundbreaking $90 million Nike deal before his first game. Angel is just learning from greatness.
The comparison isn’t just speculation either. People have made it openly. On her podcast Unapologetically Angel, guest Chrisean Rock pointed it out directly. “Like, cuz you’re doing exactly what LeBron is doing… so what’s the difference?”. Reese laughed it off in the moment, but somewhere, she believed it. She knows she has that same star power. She has proven it time and again. From leading her team to a national championship in 2023 to shattering WNBA rebounding records. Her brand is skyrocketing, just like LeBron’s did.
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