The NBA hasn’t been shy of imports. Starting with Hank Biasatti back in 1946, the openness to foreign talent has brought about huge numbers for the Association internationally. And while Victor Wembanyama might be carrying the baton for the outsiders this season, Bilal Coulibaly has silently been making a name for himself in the Association. The French was picked up by the Indiana Pacers as their 7th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft before being transferred to the Washington Wizards, and has already played 113 games since then.

Playing small forward, he’s been one of the silver linings of the Wizards’ dark cloud of a season so far. His development will be key for Brian Keefe’s long-term plans for the capital reps. We’re diving into the remuneration he gets for his efforts on the paint.

What does Bilal Coulibaly’s salary look like?

Coulibaly was picked up from the LNB Pro where he repped the Metropolitans 92 colours. He signed a 4-year rookie contract with the Eastern team in 2023 which totaled up to $30,075,132. It talked about his potential and the faith the Wizards are willing to show in him, making him one of the top-paid rookies in the NBA at the time of his joining. In his first year, he was earning $6,614,280, constituting 4.86% of the team’s total cap. And after playing 63 games last season, he’s surely been value for money so far.

The current year sees him earning $6,945,240, which is 4.70% of the team’s total cap. The initial parts of the 2024-25 season saw him racking up huge numbers for the Wizards, averaging 16 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1 steal per game, with a shooting percentage of 50%. Of course, this included his career-high 27-pointer against the Cavs in Dec 2024 in a 115-105 loss for the Washington team.

For the 2025-26 season, the club exercised their option to extend the deal, which will see him earning $7,275,600, constituting 4.7% of the team’s total cap. This will bring his total career earnings to $20,835,120. “He’s showing maturity beyond his years. Each game, Bilal is becoming more integral to our system, and his versatility allows us to explore different lineups effectively,” says Coach Keefe, highlighting his importance to their long-term success.

According to Sportrac, the 4th and last year of his contract is also a club option, which will see him earn a career-high $9,240,012, 5.43% of the team’s total cap. By that time the capital side would’ve hoped to have turned their fortunes around- I’m sure their current situation where they’re at the bottom of the east will be turned by the time, that’s if the ’78 champions look to keep the likes of Coulibaly on their books.

Bilal Coulibaly has been on the up since his LNB days. The Mali descendant’s impact on the hardwood for the Wizards might not be helping the team as much as he’d hoped, but it’s his solid contributions that will bring the Wizards back to the heights their fanbase has been hoping for.