2023 NBA Draft Live Tracker: Grading every pick made
2023 NBA Draft grade: No. 7 pick Bilal Coulibaly, Indiana Pacers
Pick Analysis. 7. 142. Scouting Report. F. France. Bilal Coulibaly. player
Grade: B
Great upside swing for the Pacers, who can afford to bet on Coulibaly’s explosive athleticism and advanced defensive instincts on the wing. At 18 years old, Coulibaly is one of the youngest players on the board.
Despite the young age, Couliably was extremely productive in the French playoffs for Metropolitans 92, where he teamed up with No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama for a run to the finals. The Pacers should be able to get the most out of Coulibaly as a slasher and spot-up shooter with Tyrese Haliburton setting the table.
Wing defense was a point of weakness for Indy last season. Coulibaly could feasibly develop into the best perimeter defender in this class: his off-ball instincts and 7-foot-2 wingspan make him quite effective.
From our NBA Draft Big Board:
"His own star ascending next to teammate Victor Wembanyama, Bilal Coulibaly has no doubt benefited from the ocean of eyeballs on Metropolitans 92 this season. He’s still putting the pieces together, but at 18 years old, he’s very clearly an NBA athlete. His explosiveness shines on timely cuts to the rim, put-back jams, and tantalizing defensive highlights."
Update: The Pacers are trading back one spot to send Coulibaly to the Wizards, who will center their fresh rebuild around the 18-year-old from France.