NBA Draft 2021: Bulls select Ayo Dosunmu with 38th pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
How about this for a story?
With the 38th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls checked off an offseason box by selecting star Illinois lead guard — and Chicago native — Ayo Dosunmu.
Dosunmu, 21, played three seasons with Illinois, but saved his best for last by averaging 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting a collegiate career best 39 percent from 3-point range in 2020-21, his junior year.
That season, he was a consensus first-team All-American and Bob Cousy Award winner, among other honors, and led the Illini to a Big Ten Tournament title and No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Now, he steps into a Bulls back court in need of depth, playmaking and defensive mettle. Dosunmu supplied the latter two qualities in droves at Illinois, in addition to leadership and clutch play.
Precisely where he slots in for a team that has long reportedly planned to upgrade the point guard position this offseason remains to be seen. But the Bulls no doubt believe they have found a contributor for the present and years to come.
And Dosunmu won't be moving very far to make his NBA dreams a reality.
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