Dosunmu reveals how his elite defense and dynamic playmaking will elevate the Timberwolves' championship aspirations.
The Minnesota Timberwolves needed backcourt help all season, and the man they traded for at the deadline already knows how he can make the biggest difference.
At his introductory press conference on Friday, guard Ayo Dosunmu laid out what reaching his full potential looks like in Minnesota.
"It looks like being an even better defender... They've got two all-defense players in McDaniels and Rudy. Playing with those guys is going to help elevate me," Dosunmu said. "And then offensively... they sending two at Ant, I'm able to use my speed, play off closeouts, get downhill, playmake, make open shots. I think that's gonna translate great."
Those aren't empty words from a player in the middle of a career year.
Dosunmu was averaging 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from three before the trade, ranking among the top 10 in the league from deep.
His defensive numbers are just as strong, with opponents shooting just 41.4 percent against him, a mark that would lead the Timberwolves roster.
Minnesota sent Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller and four second-round picks to the Bulls for Dosunmu and forward Julian Phillips, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
How Dosunmu Fits in Minnesota
The fit makes sense on both ends.
On defense, playing alongside Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert gives Dosunmu an elite support system he didn't have in Chicago, and learning next to two All-Defensive players could push him to another level.
On offense, Anthony Edwards and his 29.4 points per game forces defenses to send extra attention his way, opening up catch-and-shoot looks for everyone around him.
Dosunmu is shooting 42 percent on catch-and-shoot threes this season, so he is built to thrive in that role.
Edwards already knows what Dosunmu brings from guarding him. "He's super long," Edwards said. "He stay down and make you make tough shots over him."
The Timberwolves had been searching for a Nickeil Alexander-Walker replacement ever since he left for Atlanta last summer, and none of the internal options filled that void.
Dosunmu checks the same boxes as a guard who can defend, shoot and create off the bounce.
Are the Timberwolves Real Contenders?
Minnesota sits at 32-21 and fifth in the Western Conference, but the path to a title is not easy.
The Oklahoma City Thunder lead the West at 40-13, and the Spurs, Nuggets and Rockets all sit ahead in the standings.
Still, this is a team that has reached the Western Conference Finals in back-to-back seasons and has the star power to beat anyone in a seven-game series.
There are concerns, though.
The Wolves have gone 12-11 since Christmas, and their defense has slipped, giving up 113.6 points per 100 possessions in that stretch.
Rudy Gobert even called for benchings after Friday's loss to the Pelicans, saying the team needs a higher standard of effort.
Dosunmu's arrival should help fill a gap that has been an issue all year.
Whether it's enough to push Minnesota past the Thunder and the West's best remains to be seen, but the Wolves now have a tough, two-way guard who believes the best version of himself is still ahead.