NBA Draft Night is always a wild evening full of twists and turns, and this year's was no different. The Washington Wizards went into the draft with the eighth overall pick but made a move, acquiring the draft rights to the seventh pick from the Indiana Pacers, Bilal Coulibaly.
"He's a guy that is the fourth-youngest player in the draft at 18 years old," said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. "We're really, really excited. We got a player that we targeted, and that's important... He's got a hunger and a passion and a work ethic that you don't see in a lot of young players."
Coulibaly broke into draft conversations this year after a promising season and playoff run competing in France for the Metropolitans 92. While his Mets 92 teammate Victor Wembanyama was the star of the show, Coulibaly quietly impressed NBA scouts while playing alongside the 2023 NBA Draft's first overall pick.
At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Coulibaly has a Mr. Fantastic-style elastic build that he uses to his advantage. He extends his arms to block passing lanes, contest jumpers and reject shots around the rim. When defending on the ball, he's a menace to get around, and just when his opponent thinks he has him beat, Coulibaly has a unique knack for recovering in time.
Not only does he have NBA length, but Coulibaly is a springy athlete who plays with an intuitive feel for the game. Whether it's gliding through the paint or morphing in mid-air to create layup angles, Coulibaly has the necessary physical tools to finish around the rim at the highest level.
Dawkins noted that a major growth spurt over the course of one summer played a part in his ability to handle the ball and create shots while having a long, lanky body.
"[Coulibaly] grew six to seven inches in, like, one summer," said Dawkins. "So he had guard skills and then became this 6-foot-7, long, athletic, lanky guy, and he kept those ball skills and was able to do more on the ball and shot 50% in the playoffs."
At only 18 years old, Coulibaly will need time to fill out, adapt to the NBA game and develop his jumper. Transitioning into the NBA is never easy and there are question marks surrounding every rookie. But the foundation is there for Coulibaly. There were few players in the draft with potential as great as his.
BILAL COULIBALY'S FIT WITH THE WIZARDS
Coulibaly loves to grab rebounds and push the ball in transition. A menacing force in the open court, he'll pair nicely with Deni Avdija and will help boost the Wizards' transition offense. Washington ranked 26th in fast break points per game (11.9) last season, an area they'll look to improve as they move forward into the 2023-24 season.
A versatile wing who will likely see most of his minutes at either the two or the three, Coulibaly's versatility will shine brightest on defense. He has the potential to defend the opposing team's leading perimeter scorer while also switching 1-4 on screens. That's a special skill that NBA teams continue to value at a premium.
Defense has long been an area of focus for Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr., but in the 2022-23 season, the Wizards found themselves with the 21st-best defensive rating (114.9). Coulibaly can help fill that need right away.
"He's 99th percentile for his position in height. He's 99th percentile for his position in length. And if you table all the measurements and see him run and jump, he's probably 99th percentile in that, too," said Dawkins. "But with that comes an effort, and he's a guy that takes contact and dishes it out on offense. But defensively, he can guard on the ball and guard off the ball. We see him as a guy that can switch and be versatile, and he embraces that."
Who does Coulibaly watch and model his game after? "I love to watch Paul George's game," said Coulibaly to the media in Washington, D.C. after he was drafted. "Just good two-way players who can score the ball and play great defense without the ball."
While Coulibaly has the tendency to dazzle on the court, it's his mindset and approach that set him apart in the eyes of the Wizards' front office.
"The passion that you see the second you walk into the gym -- he's the guy running around, positive energy," said Dawkins. "He's a family guy... He comes from humble beginnings. Nothing was handed to him. We had a real deep conversation about what drives you, what motivates you. There's gonna be some setbacks for all rookies. You're gonna be in a different location. Spotlight's gonna be a little brighter here. What's gonna drive you? What's gonna motivate you? What's gonna push you? And are you ready for those things? And his personality is 'Bring it on. I'm ready for it.'"