The Washington Wizards’ newest player, although still young, is full of energy and skill. Bilal Coulibaly is the new Agent Zero, the first to wear the number since Gilbert Arenas.
“Actually, I’m very proud to wear that number,” Coulibaly said. “I know Agent Zero was the last one to wear that, and all the respect to him. I had a great year last year with that number. I hope that continues.”
General Manager Will Dawkins and Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger are rebooting the Wizards, no longer counting on their old players but on new and fresh athletes, including Coulibaly.
Developing new talent will be difficult for the Wizards, since it has never been a strength of the organization.
Coulibaly will need some time to develop. To gain experience, Coulibaly watches Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges.
“I just want to see how he defends, how he attacks pick and rolls and everything,” he said.
Although Coulibaly has some professional experience, he still needs more. His shooting needs improvement.
According to the Washington Post, what Coulibaly “possesses most is potential.” He has an impressive defensive stance and ballhandling talent.
“He’s got a rare mix of youth, elite athleticism, speed with a skill set to continue to handle the ball, pass and defend at a high level. He’s a two-way player that we have a lot of confidence in. … It’s a tremendous starter’s kit,” Dawkins said Saturday.
“The basketball will take care of itself. The work will take care of itself. He’s coming in with substance, as a competitor, as a person and as a worker. … Got a long way to go, a lot of stuff to work on, but there’s a lot there to tap into,” Dawkins said.
With new players like Coulibaly, the Wizards can now forget the past and restart from scratch.
Sources:
Wallace, Ava, 2023, “Wizards introduce Bilal Coulibaly, their new Agent Zero,” The Washington Post, June 24, Accessed June 28, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/06/24/wizards-bilal-coulibaly/
“Actually, I’m very proud to wear that number,” Coulibaly said. “I know Agent Zero was the last one to wear that, and all the respect to him. I had a great year last year with that number. I hope that continues.”
General Manager Will Dawkins and Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger are rebooting the Wizards, no longer counting on their old players but on new and fresh athletes, including Coulibaly.
Developing new talent will be difficult for the Wizards, since it has never been a strength of the organization.
Coulibaly will need some time to develop. To gain experience, Coulibaly watches Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges.
“I just want to see how he defends, how he attacks pick and rolls and everything,” he said.
Although Coulibaly has some professional experience, he still needs more. His shooting needs improvement.
According to the Washington Post, what Coulibaly “possesses most is potential.” He has an impressive defensive stance and ballhandling talent.
“He’s got a rare mix of youth, elite athleticism, speed with a skill set to continue to handle the ball, pass and defend at a high level. He’s a two-way player that we have a lot of confidence in. … It’s a tremendous starter’s kit,” Dawkins said Saturday.
“The basketball will take care of itself. The work will take care of itself. He’s coming in with substance, as a competitor, as a person and as a worker. … Got a long way to go, a lot of stuff to work on, but there’s a lot there to tap into,” Dawkins said.
With new players like Coulibaly, the Wizards can now forget the past and restart from scratch.
Sources:
Wallace, Ava, 2023, “Wizards introduce Bilal Coulibaly, their new Agent Zero,” The Washington Post, June 24, Accessed June 28, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/06/24/wizards-bilal-coulibaly/
