Washington Wizards star Bilal Coulibaly underwent a surgical process on Friday to restore a ligament tear in his proper thumb, the staff introduced. Coulibaly’s damage, which was sustained whereas enjoying for France in FIBA Eurobasket, is “probably” to impression his availability for the beginning of the 2025-26 season, ESPN reported.
Within the six video games he performed in throughout the occasion, Coulibaly, 21, averaged 6.3 factors and 4.3 rebounds whereas capturing 41.2% from the sector.
Coulibaly, the No. 7 decide within the 2023 NBA Draft, is coming off a breakout sophomore marketing campaign. He averaged 12.3 factors. 5.0 rebounds and three.4 assists whereas beginning 59 video games for Washington.
Throughout his rookie season, Coulibaly, a teammate of San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama on Metropolitans 92 in France, was slowly built-in into Washington’s rotation. He averaged 8.4 factors, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists whereas beginning simply 15 video games in his 63 complete appearances. In every of Coulibaly’s first two seasons with the staff, the Wizards have failed to achieve the 20-win mark.
What does this imply for the Wizards?
Shedding Coulibaly for the beginning of the season can be a significant blow for Washington. The Wizards have constructed one of the vital attention-grabbing younger cores within the league, headlined by Coulibaly, former No. 2 general decide Alex Sarr and rookies Tre Johnson and Will Riley. Former Rockets ahead Cam Whitmore and two extra former first-round picks, AJ Johnson and Kyshawn George, are additionally anticipated to be a part of the rotation this season.
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Johnson, who was chosen No. 6 general this previous summer time, was thought of among the finest 3-point shooters in his class. Throughout summer time league motion in Las Vegas, he completed 14 for twenty-four (58.3%) from the sector and went 5 for 11 from past the arc. Johnson has the second-best odds (+850 per FanDuel Sportsbook) to win NBA Rookie of the 12 months behind Mavericks ahead Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 decide.
Whereas the nucleus of Washington’s roster is its younger core, the Wizards nonetheless have a pair of veterans who’re in line for severe minutes this season: CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton. McCollum was acquired this summer time within the deal that despatched Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans, whereas Washington added Middleton eventually season’s commerce deadline within the Kyle Kuzma deal.
Although Washington was nonetheless not anticipated to compete for a playoff berth this season, the group was anticipated to take a bounce after successful 18 video games final season and 15 the 12 months prior. The Wizards are +3000 to make the playoffs this season, per FanDuel, which is the second-longest odds within the convention, solely behind the Brooklyn Nets (+3500).
