Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly underwent an operation on Friday in New York City to restore a ligament in his right thumb, the team announced on x.
Bilal Coulibaly to miss the beginning of 2025-26 NBA season
Coulibaly is expected to miss the start of the regular season 2025-26, according to ESPNs Shams Charania. The 21-year-old sustained the injury with the French national team during Fiba Eurobasket game.
In those six Eurobasket matches, Coulibaly was an average of 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds at 41.2% shooting from the field.
The Indiana Pacers selected Coulibaly with the seventh General Pick in the NBA concept of 2023 before the Eastern Conference -Competent exchanged him to the Wizards on design night.
With the wizards in the 2023-24 season, he had an average of 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 27.2 minutes in 63 games (15 starts) while he shot 43.5% of the floor and 34.6% of deep.
Coulibaly Average career-high figures with wizards
In 59 games (all starts) with Washington last season, average Coulibaly on average career heights of 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 33 minutes per game while they shoot 42.1%.
The 6-foot-8 guard sustained a hamstring injury at the beginning of March and did not play the rest of the season. His Rookie campaign was also demolished when he sustained a seasonal wrist fracture in March 2024.
Because Washington is now without Coulibaly the coming season, the Wizards will probably depend on a few veterans during his absence: CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton.
McCollum was taken over this summer in the deal that sent Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans, while Washington added Middleton during last season’s trade deadline in the Kyle Kuzma deal.
Washington has again signed Anthony Gill, apart from Richaun Holmes
Last month, Washington also signed veteran wing Anthony Gill again after he had abandoned veteran Big Man Richaun Holmes in July. Holmes’ contract with the Wizards included a second season, but his salary of $ 13.3 million before 2025-26 was almost all ungesticized.
Hoopshypes Michael Scotto Last month, Holmes agreed with a two -year -old deal with Panathinaikos who will make him one of the best paid players in Europe. The former second Rounder appeared in 31 games with Washington in 2024-25.
In other news, former Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon, a one-year-old deal with the New York Knicks closed on Friday. The former sixth man of the year will take effect his 10th season in 2025-26.
Washington comes from an 18-64 (.220) season and the Wizards ended as the last death in the Eastern Conference. They have failed every year to make the play -offs since 2021.
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