(670 The Score) Bulls rookie guard Ayo Dosunmu will be a part of the NBA All-Star weekend festivities, as he has been named to the Rising Stars game roster.
And true to form for a composed, well-prepared individual, the 22-year-old Dosunmu has a plan for what he'll do once he gets to Cleveland.
"I'm going to ask so many questions," Dosunmu said. "I'm going to dissect so many brains."
Dosunmu's inclusion on the Rising Stars roster was revealed before tip-off Tuesday, then he went out and again proved why he deserved the honor. Running the point, he had 13 points, nine assists and just one turnover in the Bulls' 126-115 win against the Magic at the United Center. Dosunmu also came up big late, hitting a jumper from the wing with 2:19 left to give Chicago a six-point lead and following that with a dagger 3-pointer on his team's next possession to seal the victory.
Dosunmu is averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 assists and 1.8 turnovers in the past 10 games, a stretch in which he has taken over as the Bulls' starting point guard with Lonzo Ball sidelined by a knee injury.
"I really give him credit in terms of the security of the ball, where sometimes he misses things, but it's not like he's turning the ball over," coach Billy Donovan said. "He had a couple (mistakes) tonight, but immediately, he like course corrects it and he really, really tries to get better and he tries to do a better job taking care of the ball."
Dosunmu was one of 12 rookies who to be selected for the Rising Stars exhibition, which will take place on Feb. 18, two days before the All-Star Game. There were also 12 second-year players selected and four players from the G League Ignite squad.
"It's exciting, it's an exciting experience," Dosunmu said of heading to the Rising Stars game. "Because you know 10 years, 20 years down the line, all those guys will always be remembered as the Rising Stars for this year. To beat the odds, work hard, come here every day with your work hat on, just believe in god and have faith, you can accomplish anything.
"I can tell you right now I'm going to ask the majority of players a lot of different questions to help myself get better, be a student of the game. I'm just going to enjoy the experience."
Dosunmu is averaging 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.6 steals in 23.6 minutes across 46 games this season. He's shooting 53.1% overall and 43.2% from 3-point range. That represents sensational production from someone who was the 38th overall pick in the NBA Draft last summer, but it hasn't surprised Donovan all that much of late given that he sees Dosunmu's work ethic and attitude on a daily basis.
"That's the one thing I love about him – is I think there's a bigger purpose and a bigger mission for him, where it's not necessarily a play or a shot that's he's kind of playing for," Donovan said. "He's playing for the team. He's playing to make guys around him better. He has a really, really good ability to stay present and stay in the moment and not get wrapped up in something that happened previously or get too anxious or too excited about what's getting ready to come. He's got really, really good poise for a young guy. He just really, really does."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
