Spurs' Victor Wembanyama ‘Going to Feel Weird’ Playing vs. Ex-French Teammate Bilal Coulibaly
The San Antonio Spurs are facing the Washington Wizards on Saturday night at Capital One Arena. But amid a matchup of two of the NBA’s worst teams, it’ll be a special and memorable night personally for Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama.
After sitting out the first night of the back-to-back against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Wembanyama will return in Washington to battle against fellow French rookie and former Metropolitans 92 teammate Bilal Coulibaly. Following Wednesday’s loss to the Boston Celtics, he talked about how special it’ll be to face off with a friend he’s known since he was young.
© Kyle Terada, USA TODAY (left), © Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY (right)
“I wish I could play both. But of course I’m excited to play against Bilal,” Wembanyama said. “I was trying to be detached from this and just say, ‘I’ll trust the coaching staff, what they want me to do.’ But of course, I’m happy to play Bilal.
“It’s the only person that I’ve seen since I’m a kid, like a little kid. And at the time, it was just dreams and something crazy, but we happened to both make it here, and I’m just so proud of him. And it is going to feel weird for sure.”
Coulibaly, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 draft, certainly got an increased look from draft scouts thanks to his impact alongside Wembanyama with Metropolitans 92, but he’s proved he was still deserving of being a first-round pick regardless of the added spotlight. Through 39 games this season, he’s averaging 8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Like the Spurs, the Wizards haven’t been winning much, but Coulibaly is providing fans with a look at what he could bring to a contending Washington team in the future.
But for now, he’ll focus on facing his former teammate in Wembanyama. The two talented Frenchmen will likely shake off any personal feelings when Saturday’s game tips-off at 6 p.m. CT.
