MINNEAPOLIS — Amid several key injuries, including to superstar guard Anthony Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu is proving that his 2026 run after being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves was no fluke.
Through the first seven games of the Wolves’ 2026-2027 campaign, Dosunmu is averaging a would-be career-high 15.3 points per game, while shooting 48 percent from beyond the arc.
“I think mostly is just confidence,” said Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch. “Being able to have these breakout games… in big moments or against big opponents and being able to repeat a lot of things in those games.”
Since Edwards' injury, Dosunmu has filled the hole in the starting lineup left behind by the four-time All-Star seamlessly. Finch believes that the Chicago native has elevated his game to a level beyond being a ‘complementary player.’
Ayo Dosunmu vs. San Antonio Spurs 10/31/2026
27 PTS | 11-17 FG | L 111-121 pic.twitter.com/gtlV2ByysE
— NBA Shooting Audit (@NBAShotAudit) November 1, 2026
“Stepping up, you know, being able to put the ball in his hands, instead of just being a complementary player,” said Finch, who is in his seventh season at the helm for Minnesota. “He's grown, you know — there's been times where he's been a great lead player for us.… When you put the ball in his hands, you feel like you know what you're going to get, you know, so I think it's great confidence.”
After being inserted into the starting lineup, Dosunmu noted that he must remain aggressive on both ends of the floor, as the Timberwolves, to a certain extent, look to recreate Edwards’ production in the aggregate.
Article Continues Below“I’ve just got to look to be aggressive,” said Dosunmu. “Look to be aggressive, not just to score but to create opportunities, push the pace. Coach been on me to continue to become an elite defender. So I’m just trying to do whatever it takes to win, whether it’s scoring, defending, rebounding, getting steals, whatever the case may be.”
The Timberwolves acquired Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls at the 2026 trade deadline, parting with guard Rob Dillingham, forward Leonard Miller, and four second-round draft picks, before subsequently signing him to a five-year $112 million dollar contract extension last summer.
“I want to look back in three years, and they say, oh, that was a steal of a contract,” Dosunmu said during training camp. “I'm even more locked in, because now I feel like it's more responsibility for me just to go out there and compete and give it my all and help this organization ultimately win a championship.”