Bilal Coulibaly, an average rookie, really? Smiling from ear to ear, with his mischievous little look, here he is improvising a 3-point shooting competition before facing the Sixers on Monday. In the corner just in front of the Wizards bench, the former Mets winger 92 (2.03 m, without shoes!) challenges Jordan Poole and Eugene Omoruyi in quick succession.
“It’s not just basketball, I have a real human relationship with them”, he emphasizes, carefully dressed in a pink sweatshirt with white sneakers, in the locker room after his team’s defeat (128-146). Between a shopping session in Miami with his teammates and an impromptu team meal, the native of Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine) has perfectly found his place in his new franchise.
Nicknamed “Baby Giannis”
On the pitch, too, Bilal Coulibaly, nicknamed “BC” or “Baby Giannis” because of his physical qualities, shows great disposition. Became the youngest starter in Wizards history during the defeat against Boston (107-126), on October 30, he impressed with his maturity and his audacity. “His approach to the game is not that of a 19-year-old player, explains Wes Unseld Jr. just before facing Philadelphia earlier this week. He is different from the others. I really like what he’s doing at the moment: for a rookie, it’s promising. He is able to play with a lot of composure, he is emotionally stable. He is truly a unique player. »
“Prove that I am mature”
Nice words that the main person obviously appreciated. “It makes me happy that he recognizes it, he points out while Jordan Poole, again, gently tries to destabilize him during our exchange. I’m trying to prove that I’m mature. I hear a lot of people talking about my age but that doesn’t necessarily reflect my game.” Presented as a good playmaker, the former Courbevoie player, still in Hauts-de-Seine, is above all used as a defensive joker off the bench. “I can almost defend on all positions, except on the 5 because I still have to gain a little mass”, underlined the one who initially wanted to gain 6 kg this season. “But I was told to take it slowly because I was going to continue to grow. »
Growing up again, moving quickly, that’s a bit of what Bilal Coulibaly has been doing for several months. Drafted in 7th place by the Pacers before being sent immediately to the Wizards, he has a habit of arriving where he was not necessarily expected. Already last year, he started the season with the Espoirs before becoming essential to Boulogne-Levallois, finalist of the last French championship.
What does Vincent Collet think? “Encouraging and very positive”
Another repeat at the end of the season with Paris 2024? “Even though I am really focused on my season with Washington, I think a lot about the Olympics. In my head, it’s second (behind his NBA season)”he says humbly, convinced that he can bring his energy to a disappointing France group during the last World Cup.
What does Vincent Collet, the coach of the France team and his former coach at the Mets 92, say about it? Not much, except confirmation that ” nothing is impossible “. “Bilal has undeniable qualities that can be useful to the French teamcontinues the Normandy technician, contacted by telephone this Wednesday evening. He is part of a wide range of players who are under the radar. » He was even able to speak with Boris Diaw, the GM of the Blues, who was in Atlanta at the beginning of the month.
Author of his most successful match in Pennsylvania (10 points in 19 minutes), Bilal Coulibaly seems to be gradually gaining strength. Shy in his risk-taking in the first matches and always in an observation phase, he gradually gets his bearings and spends a lot of time on the pitch (19 minutes on average). ” It is not negligible “, insists Vincent Collet who judges his start to the season “ encouraging and very positive”. “He has real minutes even if sometimes, like in the last match, he plays when the game is over. But it is systematically used and it is very interesting. » Bilal Coulibaly, an average rookie, really? Not so sure…
From our special correspondent in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
