International Spotlight: The Rise of Bilal Coulibaly
Bilal Coulibaly has seen his draft stock rise meteorically over the past few months.
The French wing started his 2022-23 campaign playing for the U21 squad of Metropolitans where he immediately stood out, putting up 21.9 points per game on 62.7 TS%. His defensive production in the French U21 league was also impressive, racking up 2.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per contest.
His productivity in the junior ranks earned him a spot on Metropolitans’ senior team, where Coulibaly has found a way to contribute with his off-ball game and his defensive production, becoming a valuable piece for a team who desperately needed depth after losing a number of players due to season-ending injuries.
Here's a look at the aspects which could turn Coulibaly into a potential draft selection in the 2023 NBA Draft:
Physical Tools
Coulibaly has all the tools to thrive as a wing at the NBA level. He’s listed at 6-foot-6 but certainly plays bigger than his size with a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan. With his tools and his explosive leaping ability both off of one or two feet, he is able to play at the rim with relative ease.
His mobility is also a factor, as he’s able to run the floor at an impressive speed in the open court and while he doesn’t possess elite quickness or shiftiness, he shows above average lateral mobility and body control for his size, being able to change directions and qucily turn his hips.
Defensive Potential
With his tools, Coulibaly offers an ample defensive range, being able to cover opposing wings and most guards and forwards.
Playing next to Victor Wembanyama, the best shot blocker in the international game, Coulibaly is mostly asked to defend the perimeter and contain opponents, a role in which he succeeds more often than not. Coulibaly sits well in the perimeter, gets in a stance and moves laterally to stay in front of opposing drivers. His combination of size and length allow him to contest and block shots both in the perimeter and in the paint. He also does a great job of not biting for pump fakes and changing directions when opponents try to attack him on closeouts.
Off-Ball Offense
After being the focal point of the offense at the junior levels, Coulibaly has adapted quickly to a low-usage role for Metropolitans’ senior squad, where he’s asked to space the floor and make plays mostly off-the-ball.
Most of his offense in the paint come from cuts and offensive boards, two areas in which Coulibaly shows tremendous instincts, timing and feel for the game. When it comes to cutting, he is quick to attack defenders who turn their backs on him and find open lanes. He finishes cuts well with his combination of size, standing reach and vertical explosiveness.
It’s a similar scenario when he attacks the offensive glass, where he is opportunistic and plays with tremendous energy, pursuing fifty-fifty balls and coming up with extra possessions at a good rate.
In the perimeter, he contributes with his spot-up shooting, converting 55.6% of his shots from beyond the arc, albeit on a low volume: just 0.6 attempts per game. Coulibaly could translate well to the NBA level as an off-ball, stationary shooter considering his touch on multiple levels of the floor, but he will certainly need to quicken his shot release, as he shoots a slow, two-motion jumper which could be easy for NBA defenders to contest.
On-Ball Flashes and Improvement Areas
In the few opportunities Coulibaly has with the ball in his hands, he is able to get by his man with a quick first step and while he’s not extremely shifty, he is able to contort his body and change directions slightly to avoid defenders on his way to the rim. His best trait as a driver is his finishing at the rim, where he shows the ability to convert shots off-balance and against contact with an impressive combination of hangtime, touch and extension.
Coulibaly has a clear improvement area which is his ball-handling ability. While his combination of size and speed make him a dangerous player when taking the ball coast to coast in transition, he’s not always able to change directions at high speeds with his rigid handle. Similarly, when he faces defensive pressure in the half-court, he doesn’t show a great number of counters, which makes it easier for defenders to contain him as a driver and force him to either pass the ball or turn it over.
NBA Questions and Projections
Coulibaly has quickly risen from an interesting long-term project to an NBA Draft candidate over the past six months. From a physical and athletic standpoint, Coulibaly certainly fits the profile of an NBA wing and he has shown that he can put his tools to use and add value on both ends of the floor.
The questions will revolve around his offensive contributions beyond cuts and offensive rebounds. If he can improve the handle and show that he’s able to convert jumpers on a high volume and efficiency, he becomes much more enticing as a prospect. For now, the lack of on-ball creation and the low volume of jumpshot attempts might put a hard cap on his draft stock, but his athletic profile and defensive contributions might be enough to convince a team to take a flier on him at some point during the second round.
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