The Chicago Bulls are hitting a rough patch-and hitting it hard. After a red-hot 5-0 start that had fans flashing back to the glory days of the '96-97 season, things have cooled off dramatically.
The defense, once a strength, started to crack. Then the offense followed suit.
And now, with the team dropping eight of their last ten games, the Bulls are searching for answers on both ends of the floor.
But even in the middle of this slide, one bright spot has stood out: Ayo Dosunmu. The Chicago native is in the middle of what might be the best season of his young career. After battling back from a shoulder injury that cut his last campaign short, Dosunmu has come back stronger-and sharper-than ever.
He’s putting up a career-best 15.2 points per game and shooting an eye-popping 47.5% from beyond the arc on four attempts per game. That’s not just hot shooting-it’s elite territory.
Even if that number dips a bit as the season wears on, he’s still on pace to smash his previous career high of 40.3% from deep. For a Bulls team struggling to find consistency, Dosunmu’s growth as a scorer and shooter has been one of the few constants.
That’s why the news coming out of Chicago this week was especially tough to hear. According to CHSN’s K.C.
Johnson, Dosunmu is dealing with injuries to both thumbs-sprains in each, plus a bone bruise in his right thumb. The timing couldn’t be worse, and while the NBA Cup break offers a little breathing room, there’s a real possibility he could miss time.
And honestly, that might be the smart move.
The Bulls are in a place where every loss matters-not just in the standings, but in shaping the direction of the franchise. Playing Dosunmu through pain, especially with unrestricted free agency on the horizon, doesn’t make much sense for either side.
He’s shown what he can do when healthy. Now, it might be time to protect that investment-for both the Bulls and Dosunmu himself.
There are signs that the injury-or perhaps lingering effects from last season’s shoulder issue-may already be impacting his game. Per Cleaning The Glass, Dosunmu is finishing just 55% of his shots at the rim, a steep drop from the 66% clip he’s posted in prior seasons.
That’s not a small dip-it’s a major red flag for a player who typically thrives attacking the basket. The contrast is even more striking when you compare it to his perimeter shooting, which has been lights out.
It’s a bit of a role reversal when you look at teammate Coby White, who’s struggling from deep but finishing better than usual around the rim. For Dosunmu, the shooting touch is clearly there-it’s the physicality at the rim that seems to be missing, and that could be a sign his body isn’t quite where it needs to be.
With the Bulls sliding and Dosunmu nursing multiple injuries, the question becomes less about whether he can play and more about whether he should. He’s currently the team’s fourth-leading scorer-just a hair behind Nikola Vučević-and his absence would absolutely be felt. But if the long-term vision is what matters most, then giving Dosunmu the time he needs to get fully healthy might be the best play for everyone involved.
There’s no question he’s earned a bigger role and a bigger paycheck in the near future. And if he keeps shooting like this, that payday is coming. But for now, the Bulls-and Dosunmu-need to think big picture.