Not long after putting the finishing touches on a career-high 34-point performance against the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, third-year Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu was already looking forward to improving his game more as the regular season winds down.
Dosunmu’s improvement this season was on full display against Washington. He scored on blazing drives to the rim, made four three-pointers, and made the right passes to open teammates. He also racked up nine assists and three rebounds. Listening to the former Illinois star talk about his game’s growth, it seems like he’s far from finished.
No limit to what he can do
While Dosunmu has gotten plenty of praise from coaches and teammates, he says he wants to grow consistently. While some NBA players make it big one season and never get back to that level, Dosunmu is determined to keep pushing himself.
“You always have room for growth,” Dosunmu shared.
“I never really put a limit on what I can accomplish. As the season goes on, learn on the go is pretty much where I am at. I don’t set goals of where I want to be at. There are always ups and downs; you want to be consistent.”
Remain in attack mode
There is little question about Dosunmu’s best weapon: his incredible speed. He uses it to push the ball up the court and blow past defenders. But Dosunmu knows he can’t rely on his speed alone to succeed in the NBA. He understands the importance of staying in attack mode and constantly improving his skills.
“I always try to be in attack mode,” Dosunmu explained.
“That’s the growth in my game. Not playing timid, always attacking whether I keep the dribble or kick out or attack or try to get Vooch a shot. Always be in attack mode. That’s the most dangerous player to guard, someone who’s always in attack mode. Not just for the setup, but also to create. That’s something I try to hone in on.”
Dosunmu’s overall numbers indicate that he’s averaging a career-high 11.2 points per game this season. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye: Since January 13, Dosunmu has averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game, shooting 51 percent from the field and 43 percent from long distance. With injuries to key Bulls putting much more on his plate, Dosunmu is proving he can handle the pressure and step up when needed.
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