Who is Ayo Dosunmu? Chicago Bulls' second-year guard flourishing in the starting role

Ayo Dosunmu, the Chicago Bulls’ second-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, surprised many with his performance last season. He was often brought off the bench by coach Billy Donovan to provide defense and energy for the second unit.

When Chicago’s backcourt of Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and Zach LaVine suffered injuries, the rookie out of Illinois stepped up to the plate. As a combo guard, he played 77 games, starting in 40 of them.

What stood out in those games was Ayo Dosunmu’s confidence, hustle and all-out action, which made him an instant fan favorite. The Chicago Bulls have high hopes for the second-year guard entering this season.

Without LaVine and Ball in the lineup for the season opener, Dosunmu was inserted as the team’s starting shooting guard. He made Billy Donovan look like a genius.

On the road against the Miami Heat, the Big Ten Tourney MVP displayed scintillating form. He scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists. He also had two steals and a block. The Chicago Bulls outscored the Miami Heat by 15 points in Dosunmu’s 36 minutes of game time. The Bulls won 116-108.

Billy Donovan ran the offense through DeMar DeRozan without Ball and LaVine. Dosunmu shone on his season debut with decisive cuts and off-ball movements.

He was decent last season from beyond the arc, hitting 37.6% of his shots. If he can improve on that the way he showed against the Miami Heat (3 of 6), he could be hard to ignore even when Ball returns.

Ayo Dosunmu also showed his versatility on defense. He rotated on Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro and spent time guarding All-Star Jimmy Butler. What made Dosunmu stand out on defense was the way he relished physicality. He wasn’t intimidated in any way by Lowry and Butler’s no-holds-barred style.

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What is Ayo Dosunmu’s future with the Chicago Bulls?

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan is excited with the second-year guard's improvements.

At the very least, Ayo Dosunmu will be the Chicago Bulls’ insurance if Lonzo Ball can’t return to his old form. Ball’s injury is worrisome and there’s no telling how the former No. 2 pick will perform when he’s physically fit to play.

When healthy, the backcourt of Ball and Alex Caruso caused headaches among opposing coaches. Dosunmu is not yet on the same level as Ball on defense, but he can certainly improve on that aspect. He’s already one of the most relentless defenders in the NBA.

The All-NBA Rookie second-team member is also a dream to coach and to play with. Free agent acquisition Goran Dragic quickly noted in an interview how Ayo Dosunmu stood out:

"I really like Ayo. He's a great kid. He really listens and he's really asking questions. For me, it's just to guide him on the right path. He has such a great talent and he's a positive kid. He really surprised me.

"I played last year against him, so I know defensively how tough he is. He's a tough kid."

Dosunmu’s playmaking also needs polishing, which is where Dragic’s experience and guidance will be invaluable.

The Chicago Bulls know they have uncovered a diamond in the rough. They should be looking to extend his stay in the Windy City.