Bilal Coulibaly Undergoes Surgery for Thumb Injury
Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly underwent surgery on Friday in New York City to repair a ligament tear in his right thumb, the team announced.
Coulibaly is expected to miss playing time in the regular season.
The injury occurred while playing with the French national team in the FIBA EuroBasket, where he averaged 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in six tournament games.
Coulibaly started 59 games for the Wizards last season, averaging 12.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. In early March, he suffered a hamstring injury and did not play the rest of the season.
The 6-foot-8-inch guard was selected at the number 7 spot by the Indiana Pacers in the 2023 NBA draft before being traded to the Wizards on draft night.
In his rookie year in Washington, he played in 63 games, starting 15 of them, with averages of 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. That season was also interrupted by an injury, after suffering a wrist fracture that ended the season in March 2024.
