With the number 7 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, the Washington Wizards selected baby-faced Bilal Coulibaly. Coulibaly’s black-checkered coat, diamond chain, and matching wristlet glimmered as he made his way to the podium. A French Agent Zero has arrived in Washington.
As a six-year-old, Coulibaly’s main passion was soccer, and he didn’t start playing basketball until he was 10, when he started following his dad’s favorite player, Carmelo Anthony.
Bilal will be the first Number 0 to play for Washington since “Agent Zero,” Gilbert Arenas. When asked what the number meant, he humbly responded, “Actually, I’m very proud to wear that number. 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.”
With Washington going full rebuild mode, the Wizard’s newest draft pick will be a perfect testimony to General Manager Will Dawkins’s renovated organization. Coulibaly considers himself a guard and stands 6-foot-8-inches with a 7-2 wingspan. His unique guard build will need a lot of development and was described by Dawkins as “a ball of clay.”
Bilal has had some professional experience in the French League: he began the 2022-23 season dominating the under-21 competition and transitioned to hanging with the Metropolitans 92 senior team. Coulibaly models his game after Brooklyn wing Mikal Bridges, stating, “I just want to see how he defends, how he attacks pick and rolls and everything.” To get to Bridges’s level, however, the young rookie will need to improve his shooting and will need an abundance of calories to keep up with the NBA’s physicality and rigorous schedule.
“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… 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,” said Dawkins.
Coulibaly was welcomed to his new home by Jordan Poole, another young and exciting talent who was just recently acquired from the Golden State Warriors. He also has FaceTimed former Wizards players and French teammates. Bilal’s special frame and unique skill sets make him an exciting talent and a player to keep your eyes on as the Washington Wizards rebuild, starting from zero.
As a six-year-old, Coulibaly’s main passion was soccer, and he didn’t start playing basketball until he was 10, when he started following his dad’s favorite player, Carmelo Anthony.
Bilal will be the first Number 0 to play for Washington since “Agent Zero,” Gilbert Arenas. When asked what the number meant, he humbly responded, “Actually, I’m very proud to wear that number. 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.”
With Washington going full rebuild mode, the Wizard’s newest draft pick will be a perfect testimony to General Manager Will Dawkins’s renovated organization. Coulibaly considers himself a guard and stands 6-foot-8-inches with a 7-2 wingspan. His unique guard build will need a lot of development and was described by Dawkins as “a ball of clay.”
Bilal has had some professional experience in the French League: he began the 2022-23 season dominating the under-21 competition and transitioned to hanging with the Metropolitans 92 senior team. Coulibaly models his game after Brooklyn wing Mikal Bridges, stating, “I just want to see how he defends, how he attacks pick and rolls and everything.” To get to Bridges’s level, however, the young rookie will need to improve his shooting and will need an abundance of calories to keep up with the NBA’s physicality and rigorous schedule.
“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… 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,” said Dawkins.
Coulibaly was welcomed to his new home by Jordan Poole, another young and exciting talent who was just recently acquired from the Golden State Warriors. He also has FaceTimed former Wizards players and French teammates. Bilal’s special frame and unique skill sets make him an exciting talent and a player to keep your eyes on as the Washington Wizards rebuild, starting from zero.
