Ayo Dosunmu was supposed to be doing this with the Chicago Bulls. He was supposed to be appearing in the playoffs with Chicago, defending at a high level and showcasing his well-rounded scoring skill set for all to see.
Instead, Dosunmu just dropped 43 points on the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of an explosive first-round series—and all the Bulls could do was watch him celebrate with his new team.
Ayo Dosunmu 43 PTS, 4 REB, 1 BLK, 13/17 FG, 5/5 3FG, 12/12 FT, 96.5% TS vs Nuggets pic.twitter.com/bBZ6LlefJC https://t.co/EWQv8TQ2S7
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) April 26, 2026
The Bulls drafted Dosunmu at No. 38 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and immediately factored him into their rotation. He averaged 27.4 minutes per game as a rookie and was steadily featured from a playing time perspective for years on end until his minutes were unceremoniously cut to 26.4 in 2025-26.
Chicago then traded Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and second-round compensation in a move that seemed financially motivated with unrestricted free agency looming.
It was a baffling decision on almost every front. Not only was he a high-level two-way player who had given the Bulls four-and-a-half high-intensity seasons, but he was shooting 45.1 percent from beyond the arc and averaging a career-best 15.0 points per game despite his minutes decreasing.
If Dosunmu's tremendous play with the Timberwolves has proven anything, it's that the Bulls were right to clean house. To put it simply: How could Chicago fumble Dosunmu?
Ayo Dosunmu drops 43 points in insane Game 4 vs. Nuggets
Chicago has a dynamic playmaker in Josh Giddey and a promising scoring wing in Matas Buzelis. As the offseason begins early for the Bulls, however, most agree that what the team needs is a guard who can bridge the gap between them with athleticism, defense, and three-point shooting.
That makes it all the more frustrating that the Bulls decided that the best course of action would be to trade Dosunmu—a player who checks every one of those boxes and then some.
Julius Randle on Ayo Dosunmu: “I didn't know he was that damn good. I ain't gonna lie to you. When I was in the East and he was in Chicago, that were those DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine teams, so I don’t know if the opportunity was there as much, but damn, I'm glad we got him.” pic.twitter.com/srdQ5sJIXj
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) April 26, 2026
Dosunmu's 43-point performance in Game 4 was a game for the ages, but it was also the continuation of a fantastic series. He had 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting in Game 1, and tallied nine points, five assists, and four rebounds in just 22 minutes in Game 2.
Dosunmu then went off to the tune of 25 points, nine assists, and three rebounds on 10-of-15 shooting in a sensational Game 3.
Though outsiders may have struggled to see this coming, one can't help but wonder how the Bulls overlooked this element of Dosunmu's potential when working up close and personal with him. They had more than enough touches to go around within an offense that ranked No. 25 in the NBA, and clearly benefited from his on and off-ball defensive prowess.
If only one silver lining can be found for Bulls fans, it's that the very individuals responsible for undervaluing Dosunmu departed during an early offseason of sweeping changes.
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