Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly has undergone thumb surgery in New York City, a procedure that is expected to sideline him for an extended period as the regular NBA season approaches. Coulibaly had his original injury while playing for the French national team at the FIBA EuroBasket tournament. He was such an entertainer in his prime, and he really proved it on that world stage.
Coulibaly was picked 7th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Wizards on draft night. This trade launched his peak-action career in Washington. In his rookie season, he established himself almost immediately as the linchpin of their defense. He currently sits on the open market, but last year, he made 59 starts for the Wizards, averaging 12.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.4 dimes per contest.
Coulibaly is a rookie who appeared in all 63 regular season games. He proved he belonged by making 15 starts in those 18 contests. During his second go-around with the Wizards, he averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. This accomplishment opened the door for his improvement in the league. At 6-foot-8, he has a considerable height advantage on the court. This competitive height gives him the power to make huge plays on both ends of the floor.
This surgery could not come at a better time, as this will help inform the Wizards as they gear up for the 2023 – 2024 season. As long as Coulibaly is on the field, the team’s lineup and tactical shape will remain flexible. The organization has not provided a public timeline for his return. What’s not clear is how much time he’ll miss, but it’s evident that he’ll be out for a sizable portion of the regular season.
The Wizards are suddenly presented with the unenviable task of replacing the hole left by Coulibaly’s potential absence. They hope to improve on last season’s results. In order to get over this major obstacle, they need to stay together and improve their game.
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