NBA Draft Big Board: Washington Wizards should be thrilled to land one of these 5 prospects
By Cem Yolbulan
3. Bilal Coulibaly
The 6’6 forward from France has burst onto the scene in the last few months and risen up in the mock drafts thanks to his performance with Metropolitans 92 in the French League as a teammate of Victor Wembanyama.
Coulibaly has the makings of an all-around, athletic wing. He has a long, lanky frame with a bouncy style of play. He is very fluid with and without the ball, seemingly gliding on the basketball court.
He has shown an incredible level of improvement throughout the year, which bodes well for his future progress in the league. He is now much more than his impressive physical tools.
He is already a lethal threat in transition, running down the court with speed and burst. He can create on-ball but thrives playing off-ball as a cutter. He is an aggressive player who loves to attack the rim. He can make advanced reads and make smart passes for this player type.
On the defensive end, he is an active, disruptive player. He can force turnovers with his pressure, size, and awareness.
The main area of improvement needs to come as a shooter. He can hit threes but defenses dare him to shoot by leaving him open. His form is not bad but he needs to quicken his release and add versatility to his shot. There is no reason to think he can’t improve on that end.
His meteoric rise in the draft, incredible rate of improvement, and play style draw similarities to Giannis Antetokounmpo. It is unfair for any prospect to be compared to the Greek Freak, but the similarities should excite the Wizards.