NBA Future Watch: Bilal Coulibaly Basketball Cards, Washington Wizards – Bilal Coulibaly definitely benefited from the exposure of being a teammate of mega-prospect Victor Wembenyama on Metropolitans 92 in France’s LNB Pro A league. But it’s what Coulibaly did with the exposure that catapulted him to pick 7 for Washington in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Frenchman brings elite athleticism, energy, and defensive ability immediately as the rest of his game progresses.
He first played for Courbevoie Sport Basket in French youth basketball before moving on to Levallois Sporting Club Basket. Eventually he would play for the Metropolitans 92 team in LNB Espoirs. Coulibaly made a strong mark with that Under-21 team, posting 21.9 PPG, 2.6 SPG and 1.2 BPG. Coulibaly’s subsequent promotion to the senior team resulted in a strong playoff run and the additional eyes that came from playing with Wembenyama.
Due to the Metropolitans 92 playoff run, Coulibaly was unable to attend the NBA Combine Meaning, he was a late addition to the 2023 NBA Draft class. As such, it was surprising for Coulibaly to make the huge jump up the draft boards that he did. But in a draft class predicated more on upside than sure things at the top, Coulibaly’s tantalizing potential enabled his huge leap.
Already, Coulibaly is strong at the rim, with or without the basketball. He is poised to excel at the rare skill of being an elite offensive rebounder, because his 6’6”, 195-pound dimensions are paired with a 7’3” wingspan. Large steps (with frequent Eurosteps) in transition and excellent hangtime will make Coulibaly a cult favorite on YouTube right away. However, it’s the progress that he has made shooting (.438 on 3% with the Metropolitan 92 senior team, albeit on a 38-shot sample size) that reflects his true future impact. It is the consistent expansion of Coulibaly’s shooting radius that holds the key to the hopes that Washington has for him. Success in that arena will mean superstardom for both of the Metropolitans 92 draftees in this class.
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