Ayo Dosunmu is on a hot streak unlike any other for rookies

We’ve talked about the rare company that the Chicago Bulls‘ breakthrough rookie point guard Ayo Dosunmu has put himself in with some standout performances of late. But whact truly stands out about the most recent accomplishment for Dosunmu is the stretch of games for which he produced at an astounding level on a consistent basis.

Dosunmu helped the Bulls make it through this tough recent stretch in the midst of a huge wave of injuries, especially in the backcourt unit. The Bulls had the likes of point guard Alex Caruso, point guard Lonzo Ball, star shooting guard Zach LaVine, and wing Javonte Green, among others, missing of late.

And Dosunmu was called upon to fill a vital role in the starting unit in the last couple of weeks as his role dramatically increased. Dosunmu has started in each of the last three games for the Bulls. And he was tremendous in the process.

Dosunmu has also played in more than 20 minutes in each of the last eight games as this wave of injuries hit the Bulls hard. But his production for the Bulls really spiked in the last three games. You could easily argue that Dosunmu is the MVP for the Bulls through this wave of injuries in the last seven or 10 days.

In the last three games, Dosunmu has averaged around 18 points per game, six rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block while shooting 77 percent from the field and 70 percent from beyond the arc.

Chicago Bulls getting a historic run for a rookie from Ayo Dosunmu in the last three games

That puts Ayo in a group of just four rookies this season that had at least one three-game span this season averaging at least 15 points per game and six assists. He’s also the only one of those to shoot at least 70 percent from the field and from beyond the arc.

This all came for Dosunmu while he registered three of his four best game scores of the season so far. He also registered two of his best box plus/minus ratings in any individual game this season in two of the last three. And four of his six best box plus/minus ratings in individual games this season came since Jan. 7.

The stretch that Dosunmu has put together lately also puts him in a group with just one other player at this point. Dosunmu and potential future Hall-of-Famer Tim Hardaway are the only two rookies to have a three-game span where they average at least 15 points per game and seven assists while shooting at least 70 percent from the field and from beyond the arc.

Hardaway did that during his standout rookie campaign in 1990 with the Golden State Warriors. He would later go on to nab three consecutive All-Star selections in his following three seasons with the Warriors.

I’m not necessarily saying that Dosunmu is going to be an All-Star for the next three years of his career. Obviously, that would be great. But the point here is that Dosunmu is defying expectations in a big way and stepping up when the Bulls need him to.

Following their 13-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at home at the United Center on the night of Jan. 19, Dosunmu and the Bulls are sporting a record of 28-15. Next up for the Bulls is a Jan. 22 meeting with the Milwaukee Bucks.