Our little hooper is all grown up. *sheds a single tear*
Ayo Dosunmu has been an NBA player for just 59 regular-season games, and yet the rookie will already head to the first All-Star Weekend of his career. Drafted to legendary defender Gary Payton’s squad, Dosunmu was one of the original 12 rookies chosen to participate in tonight’s NBA’s Rising Stars event. The mini-tournament is set for 8:00 p.m. CT on TNT, as Dosunmu will take the big stage to show the nation exactly why he is the steal of the draft.
Check out some of the cool behind the scenes shots we’ve gotten of the hometown kid so far:
https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1494753912473141260?s=20&t=aeWCjylQDVytKM1NrJD_8g
Photoshoot fresh 📸 @AyoDos_11 pic.twitter.com/jh62u06ceB
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 18, 2022
Ayo Dosunmu and the rest of Team Payton getting loose for Rising Stars tonight pic.twitter.com/3SDTUHGxTq
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) February 18, 2022
Ready to light it up in Cleveland!
Full gallery: https://t.co/PRkGuXZNCC@AyoDos_11 | #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/E91eSVRU34
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 18, 2022
More important than tonight’s recognition, however, will surely be Dosunmu’s mere presence in Cleveland for the festivities. Arguably his most special attribute on display this season has been his basketball IQ. Dosunmu has been a sponge since he heard his name on draft night, and he told reporters earlier this month he plans to be just that this weekend.
“It’s an exciting experience because in 10 years, 20 years, down the line all those guys, they will always be remembered as the Rising Stars for this year.
…
Just me being around those guys, I’m going to ask so many questions. I’m going to as a ton of questions. I’m going to dissect so many brains. That’s what I’m excited about. So I can tell you that now, I’m going to ask a majority of the players a lot of different questions to help myself get better, be a student of the game.”
Tonight will serve as recognition for the work Dosunmu has already put in as much as it will serve as a reminder that many NBA teams got it wrong on draft. But what this weekend really offers for a young player like Dosunmu is an opportunity to get better, and his ability to recognize that is part of what makes him so special.
Dosunmu spoke with reporters this morning, and he offered a similarly mature response when talking about what it meant to be among the league’s young stars:
Another step in the journey. @AyoDos_11 | #NBAAIIStar pic.twitter.com/3xySO5HwV3
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 18, 2022
I feel like I write something on Dosunmu 1000 times a week, but he’s easily been one of the most fun and surprising stories on this Chicago Bulls team, which means quite a lot in a season full of those stories. Anyway, I wish the rook luck tonight, and I look forward to seeing him (hopefully) dunk on his classmates.