« It’s insane! »: Bilal Coulibaly impresses in his first EuroBasket game

Bilal Coulibaly (6’8″, 21) made quite an impression in his EuroBasket 2025 debut. Starting for the French team, the Washington Wizards forward delivered an energy-filled performance, finishing with 12 points on 5/11 shooting, 7 rebounds and especially a spectacular defensive sequence with two consecutive blocks on Ismael Bako.

Coulibaly starts his Euro with flair

Right after the game, his teammates didn’t fail to highlight the young guard/forward’s (21) impact. « It’s insane! Bilal has a kind of unique quality, a mix of length, height, and it also shows his determination… This energy feeds the group, » enthused Isaïa Cordinier, who shared the perimeter with him in the starting lineup. Alexandre Sarr, who plays with him both in Washington and for France, added: « He had a very good game. From the start, he was aggressive. I’ve often seen him do this with the Wizards and it’s great to see him do it with the national team. » Finally, Elie Okobo, who tied with him as France’s top scorer of the night, summarized: « An exceptional athlete… he has a lot of confidence and isn’t afraid of getting dunked on. Next time, he (Ismael Bako, his former teammate) should pass the ball out (smiles). »

Defensive energy, progress with the ball

Scoring 12 points on 5/11 shooting, but still struggling from distance (0/4 from 3-point range), Bilal Coulibaly stood out with his activity and confidence with the ball. « I wasn’t very accurate from outside but I made up for it by attacking the rim, being very aggressive, » he explained afterward. While he emphasized the instinctive nature of his spectacular blocks (« It’s not something I necessarily work on, it’s just determination »), he also highlighted the progress made throughout his first NBA season: « I handled the ball with the Wizards, I showed what I was capable of in practice, and with the national team they let me do it on the court. » His coach Frédéric Fauthoux obviously appreciates his progress on this side of the court, but mainly notes his « true defensive consistency since the start of preparation. » An all-risk insurance that already makes him a key player for this team.

Confidence, role and ambitions

Coulibaly is delighted with the role the staff has given him: « Freddy trusts me, he makes sure I’m comfortable on the court and that I do what I want. » This puts him in the best position before facing Luka Doncic’s Slovenia on Saturday. The former Metropolitans 92 player is eager to match up against the NBA star: « I can’t wait, every time we play against him in the NBA season, it’s cool. At the Euro it will be different again, I can’t wait to defend against him. He’ll probably be more agile (after losing 15 kilos), but we’re ready. »

The young forward’s rise, praised by the entire locker room, is a strong promise for the French team that will need his intensity and versatility throughout the competition.

In Katowice,