From Childhood Friends to NBA Stars: Washington Wizards Bilal Coulibaly gets his First Crack at Victor Wembanyama

As the Washington Wizards face the San Antonio Spurs, a 'Dream' matchup is in store.

Everyone in the lottery last year, including the Washington Wizards, were hoping to land the number one pick and draft one of the best prospects ever, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.

But as fate would have it the Wizards landed the eighth pick while the Spurs landed one of the most coveted first picks in recent history.

READ MORE: Wizards Draft Prospect Forward Cody Williams

Washington did have interest in Wembanyama's French counterpart though, guard Bilal Coulibaly.

In one of the first moves new Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins made, he traded up one spot with the Indiana Pacers to get his man Coulibaly.

Wembanyama and Coulibaly have been friends and teammates since they were 13 years old, when the NBA was just a pipe dream.

Now the two childhood friends will meet up for the first time at Capital One Arena on Saturday night.

"At the time it was just dreams and something crazy," Wembanyama said to reporters in Boston last Wednesday. "But we happened to both make it here, and I’m just so proud of him. It is going to feel weird, for sure."

Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) looks on after the game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center / Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

But tonight's matchup almost didn't happen as San Antonio has been very careful on not playing Wembanyama on back-to-back games.

Ultimately, the Spurs coaching staff decided to rest the 7'3" center last night against the Charlotte Hornets and let him play in tonight's game versus the Wizards.

“It’s going to be a dream, because we just wanted for each other to go to the league, and now we’re here, and we’re going to play each other,” Coulibaly said in an Interview with Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “It’s going to be a fun time for sure.”

While Coulibaly isn't in the limelight like Wembanyama, he has shown that he belongs in the NBA and more this season.

Since the beginning of the year we have seen massive progress in the 6'8" Washington guard's game and he has been especially stout on the defensive end.

Bilal Coulibaly Wants Respect Put On His Name

He has still had his issues and growing pains but there is a lot to like from Coulibaly moving forward in the Wizards rebuild.

As for Wembanyama, well if you haven't seen him play yet go ahead and make in to Capital One Arena tonight because he is special.

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