More than an hour before the meeting between the Wizards and the Warriors, the atmosphere is light in the Washington locker room. Despite 33 defeats in 39 matches, the group is doing well. At the request of Tristan Vukcevic, one of the Wizards’ physiotherapists acts as a DJ and plays reggaeton songs. On the other side, the names of Bilal Coulibaly and Alexandre Sarr are displayed side by side.
And while we wait for the arrival of the two French people, a mysterious tupperware is placed on the seat of the former Levallois player. When he arrives, Bilal Coulibaly shakes his head and starts laughing. “All this because I’m French? Who did this? » he said towards the locker room. No one answers but there is laughter. Bilal Coulibaly shows us that it is quite simply a pain au chocolat.
Lightness is definitely needed to help the Wizards not lower their heads. This is what the Olympic silver medalist explains to us to describe this season and continue to focus on his individual progress but also on the future of a collective which can only progress with a view to next season.
Bilal Coulibaly, you play your 40th game of the season tonight against Golden State. On a personal level, what assessment do you draw from this first part of the season?
I would say it’s a solid first part of the season. There have been ups and downs but I’m pretty much right on the goals I set for myself so it’s a pretty solid start to the season.
Can you share these objectives with us?
No no (he laughs), I keep them for myself.
You have more responsibilities in attack, including more ball in hand. How do you judge your progress in this area compared to the start of the season?
I was a little expecting to have the ball in my hands more because the coach spoke to me about it at the end of last season. So, I worked on it all summer and my progress is simply the fruits of the work I put in. I am not necessarily surprised by this development and I am particularly happy to have this opportunity and also that it is reflected on the field.
The assistant coach who is in charge of your development is David Vanterpool. He had this role with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in Portland, with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. What does it bring you on a daily basis? And what are the areas of progress on which you are working with him?
He brings me a lot because as you say, he has had great players in the past, Dame in particular, and he always tells me anecdotes so it helps me a lot in my development as a basketball player. We work a lot on my dribbling. Reading the game is something I already have in me because I played point guard when I was younger so I’m pretty comfortable with that. But on the other hand, we are working a lot on my dribbling so that I feel more and more comfortable, and that I continue to progress.
A few months ago, you talked about the physical impact of having responsibilities on both sides of the pitch. Since the start of the season, what work have you been doing to be able to handle a greater workload?
Already in training, I give my all all the time and I make sure that the training conditions are even harder than the matches, so that in matches I feel really good and that I am used to playing both sides. sides. And then I also do a lot of treatment, recovery, I sleep a lot, finally all the necessary things that allow your body to regenerate.
Manage a lot of playing time well
Although I imagine you expected your energy expenditure to increase, were you surprised by this physical impact at first?
When I played 40 minutes at the start of the season and it was really my first time where I had the ball a lot more and I also had to defend against the best opposing player, it was a bit surprising compared to the impact that it had on my body. Now I’m a little more used to it so it’s okay.
Today, I imagine you’re going to spend a lot of time on Stephen Curry. How did you prepare to defend against a player as unique as him?
I’m doing the usual, which is to say a lot of videos. For example, I watched their last game against the Wolves (editor’s note: game broadcast on the television in the Wizards locker room during our exchange). And then, Steph Curry, I grew up watching him play so I know his game quite well. And I start the match trying to make everything more complicated for him to try to limit him. I know he’s going to make complicated shots, but it’s his game so I’m going to do everything to contest his shots and then we’ll see.
-It’s often said that Stephen Curry is even more dangerous once he drops the ball. Everyone knows that he moves a lot without the ball and yet it remains difficult to defend. Can you explain to us the rigor we must have during the match to avoid falling into this trap?
(He laughs) Yeah, it’s very complicated. At times, he drops the ball and you say ‘phew I can relax a little’ and actually not at all. This is where he moves everywhere. As soon as you turn your head, you will realize that he has gone in the opposite direction. You really have to be focused during the 24 seconds of possession otherwise he punishes directly, as he did at the end of the match against Minnesota.
Collectively, what assessment do you draw from this first part of the season?
It’s not great, eh… We lost a lot of matches but it’s something we expected because we’re young, we’re rebuilding, we’re learning a lot. We are still progressing, despite everything. We had a big series of defeats and since then I think we are better. The matches are closer than at the start of the season. There is better ball management, we play better together, defensively there is improvement as well. So, we must continue on this path.
La « French Connection » de Washington
Last season, I asked you your approach to the series of defeats and you told me that you focused on small victories. Do you have a similar approach this season?
Yeah, that’s it… But this year I want to win a little more because we already experienced that last year, and I know it’s hard to take. Especially when you’re a rookie and you arrive and you have a series of defeats. So I make sure that they don’t necessarily get used to it and that they don’t think that it’s something normal because next year we will have to progress. And above all we want to have a winning mindset.
Speaking of rookies, how do you judge Alexandre Sarr’s start to the season?
He progresses from match to match. I see him working hard every day so I’m not surprised by his progress. It’s really beautiful to see. He gains confidence, he takes his shots without asking questions, he doesn’t hesitate. This bodes well for the future.
How useful it is for him to be able to count on you and your rookie experience from last season, but also on Alexis Ajinca who is part of the coaching staff, to adapt not only to the NBA game but also to NBA life ?
That helps him a little. Having French people on the team is always easier. If he has something to say or a question, he knows who to ask. We all come from the same culture so we know what’s good and what’s not because everything is different with Americans. So the fact that he can count on me, on Alexis, is a plus.
With the Blues, Bilal Coulibaly wants responsibilities
Finally, let’s talk about the French team, have you had the opportunity to speak with Fred Fauthoux since his appointment as head of the team?
Yes yes, we have already exchanged a bit by text. We said we’d call each other and we talked a little. During his first campaign, I congratulated him on his first victory. And then, he’s someone I’ve always been in contact with anyway, so it’s natural.
After having tasted the France A team for the first time last summer, what are your objectives for the Euro and for the rest of your career with the France team?
It’s in line with my progression and my evolution with the Wizards. Show that I deserve to play ball in hand, show my desire to defend against the best opposing player, and simply have responsibilities.
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