Rookie Bilal Coulibaly wowing his Wizards teammates: ‘I love what we’re seeing’

NEW YORK: A breakout player for the Washington Wizards stole the spotlight on Sunday, sooner than expected. Nineteen-year-old rookie Bilal Coulibaly has been demonstrating his potential in summer league, preseason, and the first eight regular-season games, impressing the front office, coaches, and teammates.

But Sunday was a game-changer. Coulibaly shone with several 3-pointers, off-hand drives leading to layups, and impressive defensive prowess confounding opposing players. Despite their loss to the Brooklyn Nets 102-94, Coulibaly’s career-high of 20 points was a clear positive for a franchise in rebuilding mode.

“He’s on his way to being something special,” said teammate Landry Shamet.

Coulibaly, selected in the 2023 NBA Draft, has surpassed expectations by shooting 42% this season – a significant progress that impressed Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. His efforts in honing his skills with extra hours of practice are commendable and have contributed to his remarkable improvement.

Coulibaly’s unique “point-five mentality” allows him to make quick decisions, and the game has gotten “way easier” for him,” he stated.

His development and willingness to grow are evident, with the team seeing him as a future defensive menace with unstoppable quickness. Despite a few late-game missteps, Coulibaly’s performance was paramount and a testament to his potential.

“He plays with a level of composure, doesn’t make too many mistakes. He’s growing more and more confident, and he’s shooting the ball really well, too,” said teammate Kyle Kuzma.

(Top photo of Tyus Jones, Bilal Coulibaly and Spencer Dinwiddie: Vincent Carchietta / USA Today)