Ayo Dosunmu’s Speed is Changing the Game in Minnesota
Ayo Dosunmu didn’t enter the NBA with the spotlight of a lottery pick. As a second-round selection in 2021, he had to earn his minutes-and he did that the hard way: by sharpening his offensive game, embracing his role, and doubling down on what’s always made him dangerous-his speed.
Coming out of Illinois, Dosunmu had already built a strong résumé. He averaged 16.7 points, 4.8 boards, and nearly four assists per game over three seasons, with a true shooting percentage just shy of 55%.
He was the Bob Cousy Award winner as the nation’s top point guard and a consensus first-team All-American. In Champaign, he was a star.
But even with all that college success, his path to NBA relevance wasn’t guaranteed.
The biggest question hanging over Dosunmu’s game? The jumper.
In today’s league, if you’re a guard who can’t stretch the floor, you’re a liability. Dosunmu knew that.
So he went to work. Over the course of four and a half seasons in Chicago, he refined his mechanics and turned himself into a credible shooter.
That opened up everything else-and that’s when his game really started to click.
But make no mistake: Dosunmu’s bread and butter has always been his ability to get downhill. He’s a blur in the open court, and when he’s got a head of steam, defenders are often left flat-footed.
That transition game? It’s not just a bonus-it’s his calling card.
Back in college, he was already elite in the open floor. During his junior year at Illinois, he scored 1.26 points per possession in transition, good for the 84th percentile nationally.
That’s not just efficient-it’s elite. And now, just a few games into his stint with the Timberwolves, that same burst is turning heads in Minnesota.
Let’s rewind for a second. The Bulls, Dosunmu’s first NBA home, have been reshaping their identity over the past couple of seasons.
With Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan moving on, Chicago pivoted to a faster, more transition-heavy style. That shift played right into Dosunmu’s strengths.
He became a grab-and-go threat, someone who could snatch a rebound and instantly turn defense into offense. His transition frequency went up, and so did his impact.
Here’s the thing: Dosunmu’s transition efficiency has held steady even as the Bulls changed gears. In 2023-24, Chicago ranked dead last in the NBA in transition frequency, but Dosunmu still managed to post a 1.24 PPP in those situations-landing him in the 78th percentile among his positional peers.
Fast forward to this season, and the Bulls are now second in transition frequency. Dosunmu?
He’s right there with them, logging a 33.7% transition play-type frequency and scoring 1.21 PPP-still well above average, ranking in the 73rd percentile.
Translation: No matter the system, no matter the pace, Dosunmu finds a way to make transition offense work.
And now, he’s bringing that same skillset to the Timberwolves.
In Minnesota’s recent home win over the Hawks, Dosunmu’s transition game was on full display. Whether it was flying up the floor off a miss or slicing through defenders after a steal, he played with a tempo that the Hawks couldn’t match.
It’s not just about speed-it’s about control, decision-making, and knowing when to attack. Dosunmu has that balance.
Sure, other Wolves guards like Bones Hyland and Terrence Shannon Jr. have also been pushing the pace. Hyland’s quick to get the ball up the floor, but he’s more pass-first in transition and tends to avoid crowded lanes. Shannon has flashed big moments, but injuries and a lack of polish with his off-hand have limited his consistency.
Dosunmu, though? He’s a proven transition scorer.
He brings a level of reliability Minnesota’s backcourt has been missing. He knows when to finish strong at the rim and when to find teammates running with him.
That dual threat-the ability to score or facilitate in transition-adds a new layer to the Wolves’ offense.
And it’s not just about the fast break. Dosunmu’s pace can help Minnesota flow into their half-court sets more quickly, forcing defenses to scramble and react. Even if he’s not always finishing the play, his ability to initiate early offense gives the Timberwolves a different gear.
Players like Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards have the athleticism to thrive in transition, but they haven’t always played with that urgency. With Dosunmu now earning a larger role in the rotation, his tempo could be contagious. He doesn’t need to dominate the ball-he just needs to keep pushing the pace, and the rest of the roster may follow suit.
It’s still early in his Timberwolves tenure, but Dosunmu is already making his presence felt. As Minnesota eyes a playoff push and better seeding down the stretch, his ability to shift the tempo-and do it efficiently-could be a difference-maker.
He’s not just a spark plug anymore. He’s a steady engine, and he’s helping drive the Timberwolves forward.