HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 24: Ayo Dosunmu #12 of the Chicago Bulls drives around Christian Wood #35 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on November 24, 2021 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Ayo Dosunmu was the best steal of the 2021 NBA Draft
Jan 23, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (12) guards Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second half at Amway Center, Ayo Dosunmu is the best steal of the 2021 NBA Draft. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Ayo Dosunmu was the best steal of the 2021 NBA Draft: Draft Position
In the interest of fairness, Ayo Dosunmu is not the only rookie making an impact this season. Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers is the front runner for Rookie of The Year. Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, and Jonathan Kuminga have all been impressive as well.
However, there is a major difference between those players and Dosunmu. They were all top ten picks. Dosunmu was selected 38th overall.
Toni Kukoc and Marc Gasol were both second-round draft picks who went on to have very productive NBA careers. However, they were European prospects who never played college basketball in America. They were also selected during an era where seeing international players perform was much more difficult than it is today.
Dosunmu, on the other hand, enjoyed three successful seasons at the University of Illinois. He won the Bob Cousy Award in 2021 for being the nation’s best backcourt player. With accolades like that, it would seem almost impossible for him to slip into the second round.
Unfortunately for Dosunmu, general managers feel pressure to draft on potential instead of ability. The popular train of thought is that a 19-year-old who joins an NBA team will ultimately develop into a better player than a guy who can already drink legally when he gets to the pros.
In no other profession in the world is a 21-year-old considered an old prospect, but those are the times we are living in. Donsunmu has proven that thinking wrong this season.
Not only is he contributing right away, but he’s also showing flashes of brilliance that indicate he has a high ceiling and will someday be an even more complete basketball player than he already is. The Chicago Bulls are lucky to have him.
!["Ayo](https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/02/ayo-dosunmu-steal-2021-nba-draft/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2160,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fimagn-images%2F2018%2F08%2F17558563.jpeg")
Chicago Bulls selected Ayo Dosunmu, they found the steal of the 2021 NBA draft.</p>
<p>The dictionary defines the verb <em>steal </em>as taking an item “without permission, while not intending to return.” This is a fitting description of the Bulls’ maneuver in obtaining the rights to Dosunmu.</p>
<p>Players who can step in right away and make an impact on the pro level are supposed to be reserved for teams with a lottery pick. Chicago did not have a great draft position, yet they obtained a player who was NBA-ready and is already producing. And, in accordance with the definition, the organization has no intention of returning him to the teams that passed him up.</p>
<h2>Ayo Dosunmu was selected 38th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has outperformed many of the rookies who were drafted ahead of him.</h2>
<p>Last season, a dismal stretch of games after the All-Star break ruined the team’s chances of qualifying for the play-in tournament. This season, the team is currently second in the Eastern Conference with a legitimate shot at finishing in first place.</p>
<p>While the “Big 3” of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vučević are the most important factors in the team’s success, the role players have all stepped up and done their part as well. That includes Dosunmu.</p>
<p>Ayo Dosunmu is a Chicago native who is living out his dream of playing for the team he grew up rooting for. So far this season, he’s been the surprise of the draft while making himself a valuable part of Coach Donovan’s rotation. Let’s take a closer look at why Ayo Dosunmu is the biggest steal of this year’s rookie class.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/02/02/ayo-dosunmu-steal-2021-nba-draft/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Draft Position </a>
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<span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> The Chicago Bulls will bounce back from their recent skid </a> </div>
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