I've praised Ayo Dosunmu for his well-rounded skill set countless times since he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. He provides downhill scoring with his blazing speed, physical defense, consistent 3-point shooting, and quality (albeit not elite) playmaking.
Depending on the night, Minnesota leans on one of these skills more than the others. Having a jack-of-all-trades guard behind LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards is ideal.
Edwards and Ball give the Timberwolves two dynamic backcourt stars. Dosunmu's malleable skill set means he can thrive alongside these stars or step up if they aren't having a strong game. That's, in short, why he's such a good fit on a team headlined by these two stars.
How Ayo Dosunmu's all-around skill set benefits the Timberwolves
During Friday's 115-93 win over the Orlando Magic, the Wolves needed his on-ball abilities more. It was a rough night for Edwards and Ball, who shot a combined 5-for-36 from the field. Thankfully, Ayo gave them some much-needed shot creation and playmaking. He recorded 14 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.
As the Magic did everything possible to limit Edwards and Ball, Dosunmu helped ensure things didn't spiral. He got to the rim at will, with four of his six field goals coming inside the paint. Dosunmu also helped organize the offense and set up his teammates for easy looks. All the same, his defensive intensity didn't waver, and he crashed the glass at a high rate.
This game helps highlight Dosunmu's ability to handle more on-ball duties and his all-around impact, which, in turn, showcases why he is the ideal backup guard for the Wolves.
On a typical night, Dosunmu will have to spend a lot of time off-ball. That comes with the territory when you're on a team with Edwards and Ball. Due to his rock-solid spot-up shooting (he shot 43.9 percent from 3-point range last season), Ayo thrives in this role. Plus, he offers complementary skills such as defense and connective playmaking.
Still, he can scale up his on-ball usage and scoring when needed. Ayo's ability to attack the rim and punish poor defenders helps him handle this role. He notably ranked in the 95th percentile for rim shot creation per Basketball Index last season.
Likewise, Dosunmu is a blur in transition, which helps the Wolves push the pace, and it helps him generate his own offensive opportunities. This is also a different element from what Ant and LaMelo provide. In Minnesota's first game against the Miami Heat, this side of Ayo's value showed as he scored 16 points and generated some rim pressure to balance out the Wolves' offense.
While Dosunmu is not a genuine point guard, he can organize the offense if needed, and he's an incredibly smart passer. Whether it's an off-night like Friday, in case of an injury, or keeping up the offense when one or both players are off, Dosunmu's ability to provide a scoring boost is a clear benefit for the Wolves.
Having a quality guard off the bench who can impact the game in multiple ways and scale up if needed will continue to benefit the Timberwolves as the season goes on. For as important as star power is, the players around those stars are just as vital for teams to win at the highest level, and Ayo is a perfect complement to Edwards and Ball.
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