“He’s on his way to being something special,” teammate Landry Shamet said. “I love what we’re seeing.”

When Washington traded up one spot in the 2023 NBA Draft to select Coulibaly, team officials emphasized the 6-foot-6 wing would need some years to begin to approach his ceiling. The admonition served to tamp down expectations, but it was also accurate. Coulibaly had not turned 19, and he had spent only a few months playing senior-level basketball in France’s top professional league.

He is now further along than commonly thought.

On Sunday, he sank four of the seven 3-pointers he attempted and, almost as important, did not hesitate to shoot when he felt he had a good look at the hoop. He now has made 13 of the 31 treys he’s attempted this season — a success rate of 42 percent — and while it would be asking too much to expect him to maintain such a torrid pace this season, it is an indication he has improved since being drafted.