“You have to shoot, we need you to shoot.” So the message that the Wizards had passed to Bilal Coulibaly after his first game of the season, finished with 8 points to 1/2 shooting, in the defeat against the Celtics.
Certainly, the winger had broken his record for assists with 6 offerings, but Washington wants to develop the Frenchman's offensive potential, and everyone is therefore encouraging him to assume his responsibilities in attack.
“The staff, my teammates… Everyone believes in me, so that makes things easy” he assures.
Message received in any case against the Cavaliers. The Wizards lost again but Bilal Coulibaly this time did not hesitate to draw, especially from afar, when he had open positions. Or to attack his defender.
Don't hesitate to take open shots
He thus finished the match with 23 points at 9/16 shooting, including 4/9 from distance, in 35 minutes on the floor.
“The match dictated to him to shoot these 3-pointers because he was open” explains Brian Keefe, his coach. “He took them. That’s what we want from him, for him to be aggressive. We give all our guys the green light, when they are open. Let them shoot. We want them to read the game and make the right choice. »
While the Wizards don't really have any collective goals this season, the development of sophomore Bilal Coulibaly (20 years old) therefore looks like a priority for the franchise, for its medium and long term success.
| Bilal Coulibaly | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | W.A.S. | 63 | 27 | 43.5 | 34.6 | 70.2 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 8.4 |
| 2024-25 | W.A.S. | 1 | 30 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 8.0 |
| Total | 64 | 27 | 43.5 | 34.6 | 70.5 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 8.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
