Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly underwent surgical procedure Friday in New York Metropolis to restore a ligament tear in his proper thumb, the group introduced on X.
Bilal Coulibaly To Miss Begin Of 2025-26 NBA Season
Coulibaly is predicted to overlook the beginning of the 2025-26 common season, in accordance with ESPN’s Shams Charania. The 21-year-old sustained the damage with the French nationwide group throughout FIBA EuroBasket play.
In these six EuroBasket video games, Coulibaly averaged 6.3 factors and 4.3 rebounds on 41.2% capturing from the sector.
The Indiana Pacers chosen Coulibaly with the seventh general choose within the 2023 NBA draft earlier than the Japanese Convention contender traded him to the Wizards on draft evening.
With the Wizards within the 2023-24 season, he averaged 8.4 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 27.2 minutes in 63 video games (15 begins) whereas capturing 43.5% from the ground and 34.6% from deep.
Coulibaly Averaged Profession-Excessive Numbers With Wizards
In 59 video games (all begins) with Washington final season, Coulibaly averaged profession highs of 12.3 factors, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals, and 33 minutes per contest whereas capturing 42.1% from the sector.
The 6-foot-8 guard suffered a hamstring damage in early March and didn’t play the rest of the season. His rookie marketing campaign was additionally reduce brief when he sustained a season-ending wrist fracture in March 2024.
As a result of Washington is now with out Coulibaly to start the upcoming season, the Wizards will seemingly rely upon a pair of veterans throughout his absence: CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton.
McCollum was acquired this summer season within the deal that despatched Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans, whereas Washington added Middleton finally season’s commerce deadline within the Kyle Kuzma deal.
Washington Re-Signed Anthony Gill, Waived Richaun Holmes
Final month, Washington additionally re-signed veteran wing Anthony Gill after waiving veteran massive man Richaun Holmes in July. Holmes’ contract with the Wizards included a second season, however his $13.3 million wage for 2025-26 was practically all non-guaranteed.
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported final month that Holmes agreed to a two-year take care of Panathinaikos that may make him one of many highest-paid gamers in Europe. The previous second-rounder appeared in 31 video games with Washington in 2024-25.
In different information, ex-Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon inked a one-year take care of the New York Knicks on Friday. The previous Sixth Man of the Yr might be getting into his tenth season in 2025-26.
Washington is coming off an 18-64 (.220) season, and the Wizards completed lifeless final within the Japanese Convention. They’ve failed annually to make the playoffs since 2021.
