Wendell Carter Jr. Opens Up About Offseason With Angel Reese: 'A Lot of Relaxation'

Wendell Carter Jr. had two priorities this offseason: preparing for another NBA season and making sure his girlfriend, Angel Reese, knew he had her back.

The Orlando Magic center spent his summer traveling between Florida and Georgia, squeezing in workouts while showing up for Reese during her first season with the Atlanta Dream. And judging by his latest comments, the couple still found time to enjoy themselves between their demanding basketball schedules.

“A lot of hard work, a lot of relaxation, a lot of support for my girl,” Carter told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “It’s been a great summer all in all.”

The support came during a major year for Reese, who joined Atlanta following her blockbuster trade from the Chicago Sky. The WNBA star averaged 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds, helped the Dream reach the WNBA Finals, and continued adding to her record-breaking résumé.

Carter, meanwhile, wasn't exactly taking the summer off.

The 27-year-old trained with Collin Sexton, a longtime friend from their AAU basketball days, and veteran big man Derrick Favors. Between sessions in Atlanta and workouts at Orlando's training facility, Carter kept his preparations moving while following Reese's season.

“I worked out with Collin Sexton—a guy I grew up with, played AAU with him since I was a kid,” Carter said. “Just his determination, his attention to detail, inspired me.”

But the couple's support for one another doesn’t stop at showing up at games.

In an earlier interview with Robinson, Carter explained that he and Reese regularly discuss their performances and help each other manage the scrutiny that comes with being professional athletes.

“We're both competitors,” Carter said. “Before games, after games, we tell each other what we should do night in and night out and not to pay too much attention to the outside noise. We call it the white noise.”

Reese has been equally outspoken about refusing to let public criticism dictate her career. On Michelle Obama's IMO podcast, she addressed the challenges of living under constant scrutiny.

“I've grown to have a skin where you can't break me. You just can't break me,” Reese said.

That determination has carried into her business ventures, including her signature Reebok sneaker line and an Atlanta Dream-inspired colorway. Carter has also remained focused on his own career, coming off a season in which he averaged 11.8 points and 7.4 rebounds across 78 games.

Now entering his eighth NBA season, Carter believes Orlando has the pieces to compete with the Eastern Conference's established contenders. The Magic finished 45-37 last season before pushing the Detroit Pistons to seven games in the playoffs.

“You don't have to think we're going to be good,” Carter said. “At the end of the day, it's still five guys on each team who have to lace up and go out there and win the game, and I like us against anyone.”