Ayo Dosunmu Is Proving He's One of the NBA's Most Underrated Guards
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu has quietly become one of the most complete two-way guards in the Eastern Conference. Here's why the league is finally taking notice.
Ayo Dosunmu doesn't headline many All-Star conversations — but ask the coaches and scouts who watch film every day, and you'll hear a different story. The Chicago Bulls guard has developed into one of the more reliable two-way players in the Eastern Conference, and his 2026 season has been his most complete yet.
The Defensive Foundation
What made Dosunmu a first-round talent was his defensive IQ, and that hasn't changed. He reads passing lanes like a veteran, fights through screens with effort that most guards don't bring, and has the length to bother shots that his frame suggests he shouldn't reach. His steals numbers have always been good — what's improved is his positional discipline. He's not gambling as often, which means fewer blown assignments and more consistent team defense.
Offensive Growth
The bigger story in 2026 is what Dosunmu has added on the offensive end. His three-point shooting, once a liability that defenses could exploit by sagging off him, has become respectable enough that defenders now have to close out. That extra respect opens driving lanes he didn't have before. His floater is reliable. His pull-up off the pick-and-roll has real conviction. He's become a player who can create for himself when the offense stalls.
The Playmaking Dimension
Perhaps the most underrated part of his game is his playmaking. Dosunmu sees the floor well for a two-guard, pushes the pace in transition, and makes the correct read more often than he gets credit for. He's not going to run a team's primary offense, but as a secondary ball-handler alongside a capable point guard, he creates real advantages.
What It Means for Chicago
The Bulls are still figuring out their identity as a franchise, but Dosunmu is one of the anchors of whatever they build next. He's under contract, he's young enough to be part of a long-term plan, and he plays the game the right way. In a league full of stars who demand the spotlight, his value is sometimes invisible — until the games that matter most, when you can't win without players like him.
