Washington’s Bilal Coulibaly (thumb) will return in the first or second week of the season
As a franchise, the Washington Wizards are trying to overcome the hump. The Wizard has nothing to do with the East for the past seven seasons. At that time, they had only one playoff.
Their 18-64 record in 2024-25 is the second worst in the NBA, with only Utah Jazz. Before training camp begins next week, Washington’s GM Will Dawkins provides injury updates for both players. Alex Sarr will be limited to preseason. Bilal Coulibaly may miss the first to two weeks of the 2025-26 season.
Wizards are not expected to increase time due to injury
Bilal Coulibaly returns to the first or second week of the season; Alex Sarr misses camp
– REALGM (@realgm) September 25, 2025
At the 2023 NBA Draft, the Wizards chose France’s Bilal Coulibaly with the seventh pick. Coulibaly played 122 games and played 74 games in two seasons. Last season, the young SF started all 59 games he showed up for Washington. Bilil Coulibaly averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In addition, he averaged 33.0 minutes per game per game in his second professional season.
During the 2025 offseason, Coulibaly competed in European basketball with his native France. Bilal Coulibaly suffered thumb damage on European shoes and required minor surgery. Recently, Will Dawkins, the general manager of the Wizard, said Coulibaly would miss the training camp. Additionally, the 21-year-old may miss the first two weeks of the 2025-26 season.
Wizard General Manager Dawkins: Bilal Couribaly (right thumb surgery) is expected to return in the first or second week of the regular season
pass @joshuabrobbins On X#FantasyBasketball #NBA
– Sportshots Fantasy Basketball (@ethosfantasynba) September 24, 2025
While his offensive skills require work, Bilal Coulibaly is one of the Wizards’ top defenders. He is six feet eight feet tall and has an impressive seven feet two wings. In his second season, he averaged 1.3 steals per game for Washington. The Frenchman can see the expanded role with the wizard in the third year. Currybali will be a full-time starter when he returns due to injury.
General Manager Will Dawkins, along with Bilal Colibaly, gave Alex Sarr an injury update. He was Washington’s second pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he played football and started 67 games. Dawkins said Sal will miss the start of training camp due to a calf injury. However, the team hopes the 20-year-old will get it at the end of the camp. Washington’s first game in the 2025-26 season was Wednesday, October 22, against the Milwaukee Bucks.
