Wizards’ Rising Star Bilal Coulibaly Faces Uncertain Season After Mysterious Thumb Surgery

When a player suits up for their national team, the pride runs deep — but so do the risks. Just ask Washington Wizards’ forward Bilal Coulibaly. Fresh off an injury from EuroBasket where he tore a ligament in his right thumb, Coulibaly’s now faced with surgery and a recovery period that threatens to sideline him as the NBA regular season tips off. It’s a harsh reminder of the double-edged sword that international duty can be for NBA hopefuls. Coulibaly isn’t alone in this struggle either; his teammate Alex Sarr also suffered a setback with a calf injury during the same tournament. As France, once silver medalists at the Paris Olympics, saw their EuroBasket dreams cut short by an upset loss to Georgia, the Wizards brace to adjust their young core without two key pieces in the early going. Coulibaly carries promise — and last season’s 12.3 points and five rebounds per game hint at his potential. Yet, the journey to becoming a staple contributor hinges on sharpening his shooting touch, something that, frankly, hasn’t quite clicked yet. Missing training camp is a tough blow for any young player finding their footing, but when Coulibaly’s back — healthy and hungry — he’s poised to get plenty of minutes as Washington continues to bet on youth and growth. LEARN MORE

This is what teams fear when their players lace it up for their home country.

Washington Wizards forward Bilal Coulibaly has undergone surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, which he suffered while playing for France at EuroBasket. Recovery from the surgery will likely have Coulibaly out for the start of the regular season.

Wizards guard/forward Bilal Coulibaly underwent a surgical procedure today in New York City to repair a ligament tear to his right thumb. The injury was sustained during FIBA Eurobasket play with the French National Team.

Coulibaly’s recovery status will be updated as…

— Wizards PR (@WizPRStats) September 12, 2025

Coulibaly isn’t the only Wizard who was injured playing for France at EuroBasket, center Alex Sarr also had to leave the tournament after injuring his calf. France, the silver medal winners just a couple of years ago at the Paris Olympics, was eliminated from EuroBasket after an upset loss to Georgia in the round of 16.

Coulibaly is part of a young core with potential in Washington, and last season he averaged 12.3 points and five rebounds a game. While he brings some defense and playmaking to the table, Coulibaly needs to be a more efficient shooter to really make a mark — he shot just 28.1% from 3 for the Wizards last season, and that didn’t appear to improve over the summer as he was 3-of-14 from beyond the arc at EuroBasket.

Missing training camp and the start of the season is not ideal for a developing young player, but once healthy and able to return to the court Coulibaly will get plenty of run and opportunity as the Wizards try to grow their young core.