Who will rise the most in the 2023 draft?
Coulibaly, a colleague of Wembanyama's, was anticipated to be a lottery pick in the 2024 draft, but a midseason injury to Hugo Besson allowed Coulibaly to distinguish himself more rapidly. After dominating for the first few games of the season with the junior squad, Coulibaly originally carved himself a little role as a 3-and-D player. He did, however, perform better in bigger games as the season went on, positioning himself as a potential lottery pick in this draft.
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report recently stated that Coulibaly won a promise in this year's lottery. Although I have not heard the same, Wembanyama's teammate is undoubtedly now being discussed.
Wembanyama is biased, but with the many unanswered questions around him in this draft class, perhaps his evaluation is fair.
With his big stature and wide reach, Coulibaly plays defense with a competitive attitude. He is exceptionally skilled at reading the floor and performing the appropriate revolutions at the age of only 18. His devotion and feel on the defensive end provide him a platform for a long pro career, especially in the present era, which rewards versatility. He can contest on closeouts, intercept passes, or fly in as a shot blocker.
Since Coulibaly is a poor pull-up performer and has little ball handling ability, he plays within his offensive range. He concentrates on maintaining possession of the ball while looking for openings to cut to the hoop. He is primarily a powerful finisher at the rim, but he also uses deft moves and pace changes. A creative NBA offense may use him as a screener given his athleticism. Given that he shoots 3-pointers off the catch at a rate that is around 40%, he can create openings for himself to the basket or for pick-and-pops.
There is room to develop. However, Coulibaly's emergence as a draft candidate is a reflection of his ability. The closer draft night gets, the higher his stock could become.
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