Bilal Coulibaly kept the good news coming for the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. The day after the team secured its first two-game winning streak of the season, the NBA announced Coulibaly will head to All-Star Weekend to participate in the rising stars event.
Coulibaly, a 19-year-old rookie from France, was one of 21 first- and second-year NBA players chosen by assistant coaches to participate in the event, which will also feature seven G League players selected by the league office. The teen will join players including childhood friend Victor Wembanyama, Portland’s Scoot Henderson, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, Sacramento’s Keegan Murray and Orlando’s Paolo Banchero in the tournament-style showcase Feb. 16 in Indianapolis.
“I am incredibly proud to represent the Wizards organization, the DMV and our fans at All-Star Weekend,” Coulibaly said in a statement released by the team. “I am also humbled for the opportunity to play as a representative of France on this worldwide stage. This is an honor I share with my coaches and teammates because they have all been so helpful in the development of my game and my adjustment to the NBA.”
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His selection highlights an impressive rookie season that has often been the most exciting part of the first year of the Wizards’ rebuild.
Washington acquired Coulibaly on draft night after he was selected seventh overall by the Indiana Pacers. He is averaging 8.2 points, 4 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range. More than his offensive numbers, Coulibaly is an active, assured defender whose length at 6-foot-8 has served him well and whose self-possession on the court belies his age. He is the third-youngest player in the NBA and has already been tasked with guarding elite players including Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell.
He ranks in the top five in the league among rookies in minutes played (1,190), steals (40), blocks (36) and three-point percentage (39).
Here is the full list of the players selected to participate in the rising stars event:
NBA rookies
- Bilal Coulibaly, G, Washington Wizards
- Keyonte George, G, Utah Jazz
- Jordan Hawkins, G, New Orleans Pelicans
- Scoot Henderson, G, Portland Trail Blazers
- Chet Holmgren, F-C, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Jaime Jaquez Jr., F, Miami Heat
- Dereck Lively II, F, Dallas Mavericks
- Brandon Miller, F, Charlotte Hornets
- Brandin Podziemski, G, Golden State Warriors
- Cason Wallace, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
NBA sophomores
- Paolo Banchero, F, Orlando Magic
- Dyson Daniels, G, New Orleans Pelicans
- Jalen Duren, F-C, Detroit Pistons
- Jaden Ivey, G, Detroit Pistons
- Walker Kessler, F, Utah Jazz
- Bennedict Mathurin, G, Indiana Pacers
- Keegan Murray, F, Sacramento Kings
- Shaedon Sharpe, G, Portland Trail Blazers
- Jabari Smith Jr., F, Houston Rockets
- Jalen Williams, F, Oklahoma City Thunder
NBA G League Players
- Izan Almansa, F-C, G League Ignite
- Matas Buzelis, F-C, G League Ignite
- Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite
- Mac McClung, G, Osceola Magic
- Tyler Smith, G, G League Ignite
- Oscar Tshiebwe, F-C, Indiana Mad Ants
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