Washington Wizards rookie Bilal Coulibaly expressed skepticism about Pascal Siakam’s reputation, labeling him as overrated during a recent interview with RMC Sport. While acknowledging Siakam’s physical strength, Coulibaly criticized his offensive predictability. However, his comments seem puzzling given Siakam’s dominant performances against the Wizards this season. Siakam scored 39 points in one game and 22 points in another, demonstrating his offensive prowess. It’s worth noting that Coulibaly didn’t primarily defend Siakam in these matchups, spending most defensive possessions guarding Scottie Barnes instead. Siakam’s impressive offensive efficiency, averaging 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, contradicts Coulibaly’s critique. Additionally, Siakam boasts two All-Star selections, two All-NBA team nods, and a Most Improved Player award, solidifying his status as a top-tier player.
In contrast, Coulibaly’s rookie season statistics pale in comparison, averaging 8.4 points on 43.5% shooting with 1.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game for a struggling Wizards team. Selected with the eighth overall pick in the previous year’s draft, Coulibaly’s NBA journey is still in its early stages following his tenure with the Metropolitans 92 in France.