#7 Bilal Coulibaly Scouting Report
A rise unlike anyone else in this draft. What allowed Coulibaly to catapult up draft boards?
Bilal Coulibaly was never projected to be selected this high, though most do see his potential as sky high. What made the Wizards fall in love?
Height/Wingspan/Weight/DoB: 6’6”/7’2”/UNK/July 26, 2004
Stats
Splits last year: 53.8/36/62.7.
Shot 20.9% from 3 in Espoirs, the u21 French League last year. 32% from 3 for Metro92 on 1.3 3PA/G. 15/43 on C&S, 4/16 on guarded C&S. 1/12 on pull ups.
1 APG. 1.1 TOV/G. Both last year.
76% FT% in Espoirs. 61% FT% on Metro this year.
0.9 SPG. 0.2 BPG.
My Essential Questions
Q1: What’s your great skill/attribute?
Athletic profile/frame & defense.
Q2: Could you have played a role in any of the NBA finals of the past 2-3 years?
If he can stay on the court offensively, yes.
Q3: Are you a gym rat &/or high character?
Absolutely appears so.
Q4: Take him if?
You believe he can be an elite defensive threat.
You believe in the shot translating in any way possible .
Notes
GENERAL
Incredible frame. Strong. Long. Quick.
Body control. Balance. It’s all there on D.
Can he play the 4?
Would love to see him in small ball lineups at the next level.
True late bloomer growth wise.
As if it hasn’t been said enough, Wembanyama’s teammate.
OFFENSE
Handle is okay. Shows flashes, but looks awkward at times.
18.1% TO rate. Yikes.
If it becomes an area of improvement for him though, watch out.
Can go behind the back.
Showed he could split the P&R.
Not instinctively creative though. Has no true go to move to take guys off the bounce from the perimeter.
Negative AST:TO in Espoirs.
Low usage in the half court. Taken 78 FGA in 560 minutes of half court O. Essentially 5.1 FGA per 36 minutes.
Has shown it down the stretch for Metropolitans 92 against, especially against Asvel (one of the best teams in Europe…French squad) recently.
Wants to get into the lane w/ his physical dominance.
Real burst. Can almost get to the lane at will.
Wants to rip & catch on the perimeter, getting downhill as quick as possible.
Used to doing it against guys his age, though hasn’t shown it as much against the older fellas.
He is flashing it against older fellas here late in the season though.
Rarely has elite finishes. Not a creative finisher.
Seeking contact sometimes can get him off balance & lead to brick layups or TOs.
Can’t get into the lane as a ball handler in P&R b/c of his inability to shoot right now. Teams will play under on P&R consistently.
Gets a lot of charges called against him.
Shown he can finish w/ his left.
Legit lob threat for a wing.
Struggled to make simple entry passes to fucking Wemby of all people at times.
Touch is acceptable. Nothing to get giddy about.
Needs to utilize length on finishing better.
Release point around the rim often low for someone w/ his length.
In transition, gets downhill & is aggressive.
Draws fouls in the open court a lot.
Shot is THE question.
Slow. Load takes a while. Allows contests that should have no business effecting him to actually be effective.Feels like he needs to get square, but doing that adds to his…
Stiffness. Can look like a push shot.
Off the bounce #s are horrible.
Too many BRICKS on tape.
Been left wide open & still misses a lot.
1/12 on pull ups…yikes.
Can get vertical crashing the boards…has some cool put back slams b/c of it.
Putback dunks w/ both hands as well.
Uses athleticism extremely well in transition.
With the ball in his hands though need improvement, but that goes for the handle across the board. Still has shown flashes.
Can utilize right to left euro in transition.
Good cutter off ball in P&R. Would’ve made MPJ pay in this Finals for falling asleep off the ball.
Utilizes his lob threat often in these cuts to the basket. Impressive.
DEFENSE
Uses length extremely well on closeouts. Menace.
Guys really have to shoot over him.
Will get jumpy. Means his vertical disruption on jumpers has a higher upside, but can see him getting beat being undisciplined.
Can be a legit rim protector though w/ vertical pop & length. Has some sick blocks.
Strong & sturdy base allows his lateral quickness to thrive. Combine this w/ his length, its hard to get past him.
Can take care of guys on an island.
If he gets beat, can still use length to alter shots around the rim.
Shown he can recover, get to spot, & alter jumpers still b/c of his length.
Good positioning.
Can wall up defenders.
Pokes the ball loose when he does b/c of his length & hand activity.
Guys who try & get him in the post can’t move him & are bothered by his length.
Fronts post ups well, again using length.
Shades Of
Scottie Barnes
I swear its not only b/c of how short those shorts are.
Don’t think he’ll ever have the playmaking chops, but D, getting to the basket…both those could be elite.
Isaac Okoro
Nassir Little
ON MY BOARD: 12. TIER III.