The Washington Wizards will be without rookie Bilal Coulibaly for the remainder of the season. Coulibaly suffered a right wrist fracture in a game against the Chicago Bulls this past Saturday. Coulibaly had a promising and hopeful rookie campaign prior to the injury. Unfortunately, the rookie will miss the final 14 games of the season, but Coulibaly provided just enough game tape to grade his freshman season in the NBA.
Washington is in a fast break situation and Coulibaly was wide-open in the paint which looks like an easy two points. Coulibaly rises up to the basket, but Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan attempts to contest the shot which causes the rookie to pause and wait till after DeRozan is out of position since he left his feet. Unfortunately, DeRozan landed on Coulibaly’s back and awkwardly dragged the rookie down to the floor.
Furthermore, it’s fair to say that DeRozan shouldn’t have tried to contest it as heavily since the Washington guard was already in position for an easy two points. Two things could have happened in that situation, either Coulibaly scores the basket, or a foul occurs which the latter ended up happening, for the worse.
Grading Washington Wizards Rising Star’s Rookie Season
The Ups Of Coulibaly’s Freshman Year
Coulibaly was a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. On draft night the Wizards traded up to seven to get him. The rookie played in 63 games (started 15) and averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while having shot 43.5 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three-point range. Coulibaly tallied 27.2 minutes per game (fifth-most among rookies) which helps further his development by having him in different types of in-game situations.
The Washington guard earned a spot on the Rising Stars Challenge as a part of All-Star Weekend. Throughout the season, Coulibaly exhibited aggressiveness defensively, high-energy on both ends of the floor, and flashes of being an effective, reliable scorer.
In this play, Coulibaly is guarding Grizzlies forward GG Jackson on the perimeter. Jackson crosses Coulibaly and blows by the rookie in route to a potentially relatively easy two points. Surprisingly, the 19-year-old hustles after getting crossed and blocks Jackson’s shot attempt from behind. The play is a testament to Coulibaly’s tenacity and unwillingness to give up on a play.
The Downs of Coulibaly’s Freshman Year
The former first-round pick’s defensive upside is promising to say the least. Coulibaly stands at six-foot-seven and uses his size and length to be a solid perimeter defender. Unfortunately, the rookie’s shooting was inconsistent throughout the season, especially since the calendar turned to 2024. In the months of October, November, and December, Coulibaly shot 45.4 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range, collectively. In January, February, and March till the injury, the rookie shot 37 percent from the field and 32.7 percent from beyond the arc, collectively.
Additionally, Coulibaly’s downside when it comes to shooting is that it hinders his ability to space the floor. In order for Coulibaly to be an elite wing, he needs to be consistent as a defender and as an offensive threat. The Wizards rookie’s shooting mechanics need fine-tuning (should be quicker), but that should improve with rigorous practice in the offseason. Coulibaly also needs to improve his free throw shooting, as he shoots 70.2 percent from the line.
The Last Word on Coulibaly’s Rookie Season
The overall grade that is appropriate for Coulibaly’s rookie season is a solid B. Yes, Coulibaly was drafted seventh overall and his statistics aren’t up to par however, Coulibaly was drafted based on on his potential. The 19-year-old displayed a lot of upside in flashes throughout this season, and the Wizards should continue to develop its potential premier player. Coulibaly is only 19 years old, which means he needs more time to mature and grow into his body like other prominent NBA stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In 2013, the Milwaukee Bucks superstar averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and shot 41.4 percent from the field in his rookie campaign. The “Greek Freak” came into the association not filled into his 6-foot-11 frame, but eventually worked hard in the weight room and the gym and eventually reached his potential.
The career trajectory for Coulibaly looks promising and Washington should expect to see major improvements from its first-round player within the next two seasons.
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