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Ayo Dosunmu is averaging 13.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 22 games with Minnesota this season.<\/p>\n
Ayo Dosunmu made the NBA Playoffs in his 2021-22 rookie season with the Chicago Bulls.<\/p>\n
Like other young players who experience team and personal success early in a career, Dosunmu, now with the Minnesota Timberwolves following a deadline deal<\/a> in February, figured that was the norm.<\/p>\n \u201cHaven\u2019t been back to the playoffs since,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Timberwolves are close to clinching<\/a> a top-6 seed in the Western Conference, and Dosunmu is moving toward a second playoff appearance.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t take it for granted,\u201d Dosunmu said, \u201cbecause you never know when you might get the opportunity again.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bulls traded Dosunmu and Julian Phillips to the Timberwolves on Feb. 5 for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks.<\/p>\n Dosunmu, 26, will play a significant role in Minnesota\u2019s postseason performance. Dosunmu was in the middle of a career year with Chicago, and the Timberwolves sought playmaking help in the backcourt. They found it in the versatile Dosunmu, who is listed as a guard but also starts at small forward.<\/p>\n He\u2019s averaging career highs in points per game (14.7), 3-point percentage (44.3%) and free-throw percentage (87.1%), along with 3.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and an efficient 51.4% from the field. His true shooting percentage (62.9%) is also a career best.<\/p>\n Ayo in the lab. pic.twitter.com\/T9VmmxF76M<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAyo\u2019s just such a quick-decision maker. Doesn\u2019t always make the flashy pass or the pass that leads to the assist, but he does unlock a lot of good offense by just moving it quickly,\u201d said Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. \u201cHe makes a lot of good decisions. He doesn\u2019t turn it over. And in that way, he helps everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bulls were still in the mix for the SoFi Play-In Tournament<\/a> at the time of the trade with a 24-27 record, but they are 5-22 since and have been eliminated from the postseason.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Timberwolves, who reached the Western Conference Finals in 2024 and 2025, are focused on another deep playoff run. They are 46-32 and in sixth place, three games behind the Houston Rockets and three games ahead of the Phoenix Suns.<\/p>\n Four games separate the third-place Los Angeles Lakers (50-28) and Denver Nuggets (50-28) from the Timberwolves. The Rockets are 49-29, and playoff positioning takes on an intriguing look. Lakers star Luka Don\u010di\u0107 has a Grade 2 left hamstring strain<\/a>, which will keep him out for the remainder of the regular season and his status for the playoffs is unknown. Lakers guard Austin Reaves will miss the remainder of the regular season<\/a> and possibly playoff games with a Grade 2 left oblique injury.<\/p>\n The Timberwolves will face the Lakers, Nuggets or Rockets in the first round, and they will need Dosunmu.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to be on an organization that\u2019s used to playing deep in the playoffs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ayo Dosunmu racks up an 18-point, 15-rebound, 12-assist triple double to lead the Wolves to victory in Dallas.<\/p>\n Dosunmu had his best game with the Timberwolves in a March 30 victory against the Dallas Mavericks when he recorded an 18-point, 15-rebound, 12-assist triple-double. He made 8-of-13 shots, had three steals and committed just one turnover. He became:<\/p>\n \u2022 The third player in Timberwolves history to have at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, joining Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love.<\/p>\n \u2022 Just one of three players (Larry Bird, Nikola Joki\u0107) in NBA history to record at least 15 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, 60% or better from the field and one or fewer turnovers.<\/p>\n \u2022 The second Timberwolves player to generate 75 points, 42 rebounds and 32 assists over a four-game stretch. Garnett last did it 23 years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime you\u2019re in a conversation with those greats, it\u2019s always a blessing,\u201d Dosunmu said. \u201cI always say triple-doubles are a blessing to get because you never come into a game saying, \u2018I\u2019m going to get a triple-double.\u2019 It just happens.\u201d<\/p>\n THE AYO TRIPLE-DOUBLE ASSIST \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/ztcjuHgzjZ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Veteran Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, who one day could make a terrific addition to a coaching staff or front office, likes Dosunmu\u2019s \u201cunselfishness, his ability to push pace, but along with that, his character is top-notch. Just been really impressed with the way he approaches the game, and what he does on the court for us on a nightly basis can change.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not afraid to ask any questions, but I\u2019m also one of those guys, if I see it, I just start to blurt something out. I don\u2019t want them to miss out on the opportunity. I don\u2019t want them to fail.\u201d<\/p>\n Said Dosunmu: \u201cHe has been nothing but a great mentor, a great vet, a great teammate to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Finch brought Dosunmu off the bench in the first five weeks after acquiring him in a trade and moved him into the starting lineup on March 17.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was fun and interesting to watch him get better every year,\u201d Finch said. \u201cThat\u2019s a really good sign when somebody can make a big step or even significant steps. This year, his 3-point shooting became real for the first time in his career \u2013 highly reliable. They (the Bulls) played such a fast style that tends to accentuate everybody. He really benefited from that.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce we had an opportunity to get him, I was very excited because he was the type of utility player that we needed and we hadn\u2019t really had on our roster since Nickeil (Alexander-Walker) left.\u201d<\/p>\n Finch had a conversation with Dosunmu after the trade and told him, \u201cJust do you. We will figure it out as we go.\u201d<\/p>\n Finch added: \u201cThat\u2019s kind of how we treat everybody who joins us. We want them to be the best version of themselves. And then from there, we might say, \u2018Hey, do a little more of this and do a little less of that.\u2019 But we don\u2019t want them to overthink it.\u201d<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at\u00a0jzillgitt@nba.com<\/a>, find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0follow him on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n