Wizards’ Young Star Coulibaly Sidelined with Thumb Injury
In a disappointing development for the Washington Wizards, promising wing Bilal Coulibaly will miss the start of the upcoming NBA season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. The 21-year-old sustained the injury while representing France at EuroBasket, adding another setback to his young career. According to reports, Coulibaly faces a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks following the procedure, which will force him to miss Washington’s season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 22 and potentially several weeks beyond that. For a rebuilding Wizards team counting on Coulibaly’s development, this absence creates an early-season challenge as they look to establish their identity.
The rehabilitation process for Coulibaly’s thumb injury will be methodical and cannot be rushed, according to sources familiar with this type of injury. “Usually, you’re not touching a basketball, unless it’s just to do off-hand work, until that six-week mark,” one source explained. Even after reaching that milestone, Coulibaly will need to progress through a careful ramp-up period that includes conditioning work and non-contact drills before being cleared for full-contact practice. Only then can he return to game action, meaning that even if his recovery falls on the shorter end of the projected timeline, he will likely miss at least the first several weeks of the regular season. The Wizards’ medical staff will undoubtedly prioritize his long-term health over a hasty return.
This injury continues a frustrating pattern for Coulibaly, who saw his 2024-25 season cut short due to a hamstring issue that forced him to miss the final 23 games. Before that setback, the young Frenchman had shown promise, averaging 12.3 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, though his shooting efficiency had become a concern. His three-point percentage notably dipped to 28.1% after connecting at a more respectable 34.6% during his rookie campaign. Despite these challenges, the Wizards’ front office remains steadfast in their belief that Coulibaly represents a cornerstone of their rebuilding efforts, valuing his defensive versatility and athletic upside as essential components for the team’s future.
The Wizards’ vision involves pairing Coulibaly with 2025 first-round selection Tre Johnson to form the nucleus of their wing rotation, supplemented by veteran leadership from Khris Middleton and additional depth from Kyshawn George. However, Coulibaly isn’t the only young prospect whose health is in question. His countryman and fellow Wizard, Alex Sarr, also withdrew from EuroBasket competition due to a calf injury, with his availability for training camp still uncertain. These injuries to two of Washington’s most important young players present significant challenges for a franchise that has explicitly committed to a youth-centered rebuild under its new management team.
For a Wizards organization that has prioritized development and long-term planning, having key prospects sidelined during crucial developmental periods is particularly troubling. Training camp represents a vital opportunity for young players to absorb the coaching staff’s system and build chemistry with teammates, making Coulibaly’s absence during this period especially unfortunate. His defensive prowess and athleticism would have been valuable assets as the team implements its strategies for the upcoming season. Instead, the coaching staff will need to adjust their plans while maintaining focus on Coulibaly’s eventual integration back into the lineup.
As the Wizards prepare to open training camp later this month, all eyes will be on Coulibaly’s recovery progress. The franchise finds itself in a familiar position of needing to balance patience with their long-term vision while managing short-term roster challenges. Other wing players will need to step up in Coulibaly’s absence when Washington faces Milwaukee on opening night, but the organization’s primary focus remains clear: ensuring their young French star returns to full health and continues on his developmental trajectory. For a team building toward the future rather than chasing immediate results, preserving Coulibaly’s long-term potential far outweighs any early-season struggles his absence might cause.
