Bilal Coulibaly

Bilal Coulibaly (/biˈlɑːl ˌkuːlɪˈbɑːli/ bee-LAHL KOO-lih-BAH-lee; French: [bilal kulibali]; born 26 July 2004) is a French professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for the Metropolitans 92 of LNB Pro A, the highest league of basketball in France, prior to being selected seventh overall by the Wizards in the 2023 NBA draft.

Early life

Coulibaly grew up in Courbevoie, France, and began playing basketball for Courbevoie Sport Basket at age eight. He began playing for youth team of Levallois Sporting Club Basket in 2017. He is of Malian descent.

Professional career

Metropolitans 92 (2021–2023)

Coulibaly began playing professionally for Metropolitans 92 in LNB Espoirs, the French under-21 league, in 2021. He began 2022–23 season playing for the Metropolitans 92 under-21 team. He was promoted to the senior team after averaging 21.9 points, 2.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game in LNB Espoirs competition. Coulibaly submitted paperwork to enter the 2023 NBA draft.

Washington Wizards (2023–present)

2023–2024: Rookie Year

The Indiana Pacers selected Coulibaly with the seventh overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and traded his rights to the Washington Wizards for two future second-round picks and the draft rights to Jarace Walker. On July 2nd, 2023, he signed with the Wizards. He joined Washington during the 2023 NBA Summer League and ended the four games averaging 12.3 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. Coulibaly made his NBA debut in the Wizards' season opener on October 25, 2023, and recorded three points, four rebounds, three assists, and three blocks in 23 minutes played in a 143-120 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Shortly after, on October 30, 2023, in a game against the Boston Celtics, Coulibaly would become the youngest player in Wizards franchise history to start a game at just 19 years and 96 days. Coulibaly recorded his first double-double with Washington in a December 2023 game against the Brooklyn Nets where he scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

National team career

Coulibaly played for the France national under-18 team in the 2022 FIBA U18 European Championship. He averaged 7.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and one assist over seven games as France finished in fifth place.