Recently, the Washington Wizards introduced Bilal Coulibaly as their new player with the title “Agent Zero.” This is general is a great honor for him as Bilal stated. “Actually, I’m very proud to wear that number,” Coulibaly replied. “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.”
Coulibaly will be the first Wizards player to wear No. 0 since Gilbert Arenas, a talented basketball player in 2010, when Coulibaly was 6 years old and still playing soccer — he didn’t start playing basketball until he was 10, when he began watching the NBA to follow his father’s favorite player, Carmelo Anthony. When asked what the number meant to him, Coulibaly was fully prepared to answer then number 0. Coulibaly stated that the number was perfect for him, and that he acknowledged who used to wear that number. Later, Dawkins was assigned as Coulibaly’s trainer. The Wizards’ newest lottery choice will put Dawkins’ overhauled organization to the test. Developing young players has not been a strength for Washington in recent years, and Coulibaly will require extensive development. Coulibaly, a 6-foot-8 wing with a 7-2 wingspan who was brought up as a guard until he experienced a growth spurt at 16, was described on draft night by Dawkins as “a ball of clay.” “I just want to see how he defends, how he attacks pick and rolls and everything,” Coulibaly said as he stated that he sees himself as a guard and a two-way player who spends a lot of time observing Brooklyn wing Mikal Bridges.
Dawkins stated that “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 kit.” Coulibaly has a great amount of potential for basketball.
Dawkins originally became interested in Coulibaly while he was a part of France’s under-18 national team and met him during a Metropolitans 92 practice last spring. Scouts were impressed by Coulibaly’s frame: he has an unusually low defensive stance for someone with such lengthy legs, as well as ballhandling talent, which means accurate dribbling and passing, that the Wizards will want to examine during the summer league.
As a talented basketball player, Coulibaly has worked hard for the number 0. Who knows what will be waiting in store for him next?
Coulibaly will be the first Wizards player to wear No. 0 since Gilbert Arenas, a talented basketball player in 2010, when Coulibaly was 6 years old and still playing soccer — he didn’t start playing basketball until he was 10, when he began watching the NBA to follow his father’s favorite player, Carmelo Anthony. When asked what the number meant to him, Coulibaly was fully prepared to answer then number 0. Coulibaly stated that the number was perfect for him, and that he acknowledged who used to wear that number. Later, Dawkins was assigned as Coulibaly’s trainer. The Wizards’ newest lottery choice will put Dawkins’ overhauled organization to the test. Developing young players has not been a strength for Washington in recent years, and Coulibaly will require extensive development. Coulibaly, a 6-foot-8 wing with a 7-2 wingspan who was brought up as a guard until he experienced a growth spurt at 16, was described on draft night by Dawkins as “a ball of clay.” “I just want to see how he defends, how he attacks pick and rolls and everything,” Coulibaly said as he stated that he sees himself as a guard and a two-way player who spends a lot of time observing Brooklyn wing Mikal Bridges.
Dawkins stated that “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 kit.” Coulibaly has a great amount of potential for basketball.
Dawkins originally became interested in Coulibaly while he was a part of France’s under-18 national team and met him during a Metropolitans 92 practice last spring. Scouts were impressed by Coulibaly’s frame: he has an unusually low defensive stance for someone with such lengthy legs, as well as ballhandling talent, which means accurate dribbling and passing, that the Wizards will want to examine during the summer league.
As a talented basketball player, Coulibaly has worked hard for the number 0. Who knows what will be waiting in store for him next?
