Dosunmu talked about family, schools and a close locker room when he explained at media day why Minnesota felt like the right place to stay.
Shooting guard Ayo Dosunmu had only spent a few months with the Minnesota Timberwolves when he hit free agency this summer, but by the time he spoke at media day on Monday at Target Center, he was talking about the state like a place he plans to raise a family.
The 26-year-old re-signed with Minnesota on July 10, and he gave his clearest answer yet on why he did not look elsewhere.
Why Minnesota Won Him Over
Dosunmu said the biggest reason came down to how Minnesota made him feel.
"I would just say, I felt at home, I think that was the most important part."
He went on to say that any player going through free agency has to picture himself living in a place, and he said he can see himself having kids and raising them in Minnesota.
The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski reported that he also mentioned the state's highly rated public schools as one reason he wanted to stay, which is the type of long-term thinking a team wants to hear.
The front office had made him a priority well before July, and the team had plenty of reasons to bring him back this offseason.
Multiple reports put the deal at five years and $112 million with a player option in the fifth season, while the team did not release terms.
What He Brings to the Rotation
Minnesota got Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls in a Feb. 5 trade that cost Minnesota two players and four second-round picks.
He averaged 14.4 points and shot 41.4% from three in 24 games with the Wolves, and he was a big part of a playoff run that included a first-round win over the Denver Nuggets before a loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The roster has changed a lot since then.
Point guard LaMelo Ball came over in a four-team trade on July 10, forward Jonathan Kuminga signed in September, and forward Naz Reid is gone, while forward Julius Randle was moved around the same time Dosunmu agreed to his deal.
Head coach Chris Finch said in a MinnPost interview earlier this month that Ball and Kuminga are two big additions to the starting lineup, so Dosunmu may be asked to lead the second unit.
That is fine, since his shooting gives the bench a real weapon.
Dosunmu also said the group is invested in one another and that guard Anthony Edwards has helped lead that push, as the Pioneer Press noted in its media day coverage.
With guard Donte DiVincenzo still recovering from a torn Achilles, Minnesota needs that type of buy-in from its guards.
What Comes Next
The Wolves hold their first practice on Tuesday at Mayo Clinic Square, open the preseason at the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 5 and close it at Chicago on Oct. 16, which gives Dosunmu a trip back to his old team.
The regular season opens Oct. 21 at the Miami Heat.
Minnesota paid real money to keep him, he has set a goal to get even better this season, and his answer on Monday showed he is all in on the long haul.
