Rookie guard Ayo Dosunmu has started the past two games for the shorthanded Bulls, and Sam Smith of Bulls.com writes that he’s earned that opportunity. A Chicago native, Dosunmu played well in his first start, notching 11 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in nearly 42 minutes during the team’s win over Denver on Monday.
Coach Billy Donovan is a big fan of the rookie and says he possesses an innate desire to improve his game.
“I really love coaching him because you can really, really talk to him in a way he wants the truth,” said Donovan. “He wants to get better, he wants to grow, he wants to hear what he has to do to improve. For me as a coach, when you see a young man with that much hunger and desire to want to be good… he wants to hear it all and I really respect that about him. There’s a lot on his plate and he did a great job not only starting (Monday) but playing the number of minutes he did.”
Smith relays that Dosunmu, who went to the University of Illinois, located in Champaign, asked to be announced as “From Chicago” in his first home start, like former Bulls MVP Derrick Rose.
“I like to be proud to say I’m from Chicago because I know the ups and downs of the city,” said Dosunmu. “I’ve been here my whole life. I’ve seen so many things, so much tragedy. For me to be in this position, doing what I love at the highest level, anytime I get an opportunity to show love to where I came from, I always love to do that. I’m from Chicago. Chicago, Illinois. I love Champaign, but I’m from Chicago.”
Here’s more from the Central:
- Bryan Fonseca of BasketballNews.com makes the case for Cavaliers big man Jarrett Allen to earn his first All-Star nod this season. Fonseca notes that Allen has posted career-high numbers in several categories for the 14-12 Cavs, including a ridiculously efficient 71.7% true shooting percentage, which ranks third in the league.
- Speaking of the Cavaliers center, Joe Vardon of The Athletic tweets that Allen will be strongly considered for the next Team USA squad under new head coach Steve Kerr. The World Cup takes place in 2023, with the Olympics in 2024.
- With a record of 4-20, the Pistons rank dead last in the NBA. However, Rod Beard of The Detroit News believes that coach Dwane Casey‘s job should be safe. He notes that the Pistons have struggled to make open shots all year, which is a player problem, not a coaching issue. The team believes in Casey’s ability to work with and develop young players, Beard adds.
- The results might not be showing it yet, but James L. Edwards III of The Athletic says the Pistons are in a much healthier place this season compared to the last few. He points to several young players on rookie contracts, another potential top pick this summer, and cap flexibility moving forward as reasons why the outlook is brighter in Detroit than it might appear on the surface.
Ayo living out so many of our dreams, I used to drive past Morgan Park high school every day to get on the Dan Ryan at 111th, I hope he stays getting better and becomes a defensive force
Love to watch him play is a lot of fun and crafty and he will improve with more playing time …
Dwane Casey is one of best coaches in the NBA. Also one of nicest guys around. Give him time.
Liked Ayo in the draft. Was surprised he dropped to 38. Thought for sure he was 1st rd pick. Bulls need depth. So this is good he’s getting mins. This will help them in long run this year.
Definitely agree, I was really surprised and excited the Bulls were able to get him so late in the draft.
I thought Ayo was going to end up getting selected, somewhere in the early 20’s, but the Bulls new front office with AK&ME couldn’t pick him fast enough, and I’m glad they did.
He supposedly fell mainly because he wasn’t really great at anything, but he’s showing with an ++heart and ++effort, coupled with his all-around skills he can be a solid piece for years to come!!
It’s funny that Ayo is taking over the “from Chicago” intro – the main reason that Rose had that as an intro is that he was disqualified because they found he had cheated on his admission requirements for the U of Memphis, so technically he was not “from the University of Memphis”, he was just “from Chicago”.
It is a great story to have a local-kid-makes-good performing well on his hometown team, playing the position his idol played. I would compare him more to the guy whose number he wears, though – Kirk Hinrich. He is similarly a pest on defense, who will get you buckets when you need them, and can shoot the 3. He is a talented and intelligent player and he is only going to get better. Very happy that the Bulls got lucky with him, mostly because scouts under rate the UofI program.
Rose was already using the from Chicago a whole year before they vacated the Memphis wins.
Ayo and Kirk are not a like. Kirk was a great ball handler and excellent shooter who was calm and could run an offense. Ayo is neither of those things. He’s like a bull(pun intended) in a china shop when he gets the ball in transition. He is however big and physical on defense for a rookie guard and an energy spark on offense when they stagnate.
Didn’t know Hinrich’s family posted here.
Seriousky, though, Kirk developed into those things. When he was a rookie he was mostly a defensive annoyance, helping when he wasn’t on the ball. His shooting was high 30% level, later he gained accuracy. His 3pt shot developed later, although he could run an offense – but don’t sell Ayo short on ballhandling, he has done well distributing in the last 10 games or so, Donovan is trusting him and mentoring him. He has made some impressive passes including alley oops and a miraculous underhand lob to Lavine in transition, so not sure how many games you have watched. I like him, he improves every game and he is getting on highlight films regularly with hustle.