Everyone will be keeping their eyes on guys like AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Kyshawn George, and Will Riley — you name it. But what if the Washington Wizards’ biggest breakout player is someone that nobody is talking about enough?

The Wizards have a young wing who has already shown flashes of becoming a two-way threat in this league. Standing at 6-foot-7, weighing roughly 195 pounds and boasting a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Bilal Coulibaly could be poised to take a major step forward this season. The potential has always been there, but could this finally be the season Coulibaly puts it all together and breaks out?

Coming into the league, Bilal was only 19 years old when he was selected No. 7 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. He finished his rookie season averaging 8.4 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks. Don’t let those “0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks” per game fool you though. In just 63 games Bilal recorded a total of 54 steals and 48 blocks, giving him 102 total stocks as a rookie according to ESPN. That 102-stock total becomes even more impressive when you look at where Bilal ranked among the 2023 draft class’s wings. He finished with the third-most total stocks among that wing group, trailing behind Ausar Thompson and Brandon Miller. But his defensive production didn’t stop there, Coulibaly also finished third among Wizards rookies in total blocks trailing behind former Wizards centers Daniel Gafford and Marvin Bagley III.

While Bilal’s defense immediately stood out during his rookie season, his offensive development  became much more noticeable in Year 2. During the 2024-2025 season, Coulibaly increased his production to 12.3 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks. That shows me that Washington was able to trust him in a larger role offensively. His 3.4 assists per game were a major jump from the 1.7 assists he averaged as a rookie, nearly doubling his playmaking production in just one season.

Bilal also continued to show his ability to impact the game in different aspects and not just scoring. Although his three-point percentage dropped to 28.1% and the year before that he was shooting 34.6% from behind the arc his increased scoring, rebounding and playmaking showed that there was more to his offensive game than what he displayed as a 19-year-old rookie. Bilal also became a much more effective finisher around the rim, shooting roughly 70% at the rim.

Now when Bilal entered his third season, Bilal Coulibaly continued to show signs of offensive growth, even though his scoring average dipped slightly from 12.3 points per game in his sophomore season to 11.7 points per game in 2025-26. In 56 games, Coulibaly averaged 11.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 block per game while playing 26.2 minutes per night. What stands out more than the scoring average, however, is how his efficiency and offensive responsibility developed.

According to ESPN, Coulibaly’s true shooting percentage improved from 51.5% in his second season to 53.1% in his third season, while his usage rate increased from 18.0% to 20.0%. His points per 40 minutes also jumped from 14.9 to 17.9, showing that his production was higher when accounting for playing time. NBA.com also lists his effective field-goal percentage at 48.5%, up from 47.2% the previous season, while his assist-to-turnover ratio improved from 1.59 to 1.79. Most importantly, his three-point shooting climbed from 28.1% in Year 2 to 31.9% in Year 3. Those numbers may not jump off the page, but they show a player gradually becoming more efficient while taking on a larger offensive role. For a player entering his fourth season, that progression could be the foundation for the breakout season Washington has been waiting for.

If Bilal Coulibaly is going to have a breakout season, his defense could be the foundation that gets him there. Coulibaly has already established himself as one of Washington’s most disruptive defenders, and his numbers back it up. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged a career-high 1.3 steals and 1.0 block per game, becoming the only Wizards player to average at least one steal and one block per game while also playing a significant role on the perimeter. His 75 total steals and 54 blocks gave him 129 combined steals and blocks in just 56 games, or 2.3 stocks per game.

What makes next season even more interesting is the amount of offensive talent Washington acquired over the offseason. Washington has added the No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa to a roster that already features Trae Young, Anthony Davis, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and other young offensive pieces. Although Coulibaly finished the 2025-26 season averaging 11.7 points per game, he showed flashes of being a much more dangerous scorer.

From December 23 through December 31, Coulibaly scored at least 13 points in five straight games, averaging 15.2 points during that stretch. Later in the season, he scored 25 points against Miami on April 10 and 19 points against Chicago on April 8, showing he could produce at a much higher level in stretches. His biggest scoring performance came on March 12 against Orlando, when Coulibaly dropped a career-high 29 points while knocking down five three-pointers. He also added six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block, showing that his impact went far beyond scoring. Earlier in the season, on January 29 against Milwaukee, he recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

If Coulibaly can continue improving his three-point shooting, maintain his defensive impact and turn his scoring flashes into consistent production, there is a legitimate case that he could be the Wizards’ biggest breakout player this season.