2023 NBA Mock Draft: Spurs land franchise PG, tanking pays off for Pistons

After working his way up from the U21 French League, Metropolitans 92 wing Bilal Coulibaly is beginning to get very real draft buzz in his own right next to his teammate Victor Wembanyama and could continue to skyrocket up draft boards with more exposure. The 18-year-old wing is known for his combination of athleticism, defensive instincts, and shot-creation upside that could bring back serious value for any team willing to be patient with his development.

I’m generally not one for player comparisons, particularly when a player is as young and raw as Coulibaly still is, but I would not be surprised to see him begin to draw comparisons to Jalen Williams by the time the draft comes around. Coulibaly stands at roughly 6’6” to 6’7” with a reported 7’3” (!!) wingspan, grabs nearly 1 steal per game despite only averaging roughly 15 minutes per game in the LNB Pro A, is a crafty finisher with plus athleticism, and has some upside as a playmaker on both ends of the floor.

Coulibaly’s overall offense is still a work in progress, as he’s only shot about 36% from three including his games in the U21 league, but developmentally speaking, he’s a ball of clay on that end of the floor that could reasonably improve in several areas given his age. If he decides not to declare for the draft this year, he could be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft if the stars align for him.