Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu is a jack-of-all-trades. Without a doubt, though, his spot-up shooting is a key part of his impact. Last season, he netted 43.9 percent of his 3-pointers. Having a guard who can spot-up, defend, attack the rim, and create for others is ideal for a Timberwolves team with championship aspirations.Â
Throughout his career, though, Dosunmu hasn't been a 3-point sniper like he was last season. Notably, in 2024-25, Dosunmu shot just 32.8 percent from 3-point range and was a 36.1 percent shooter up until last season. In college, he shot just 34.5 percent from 3-point range.Â
As such, I understand if you have some concerns about Dosunmu remaining a dependable shooting threat. However, LaMelo Ball should help ensure this trend continues. The Timberwolves' prized offseason addition is one of the league's best playmakers; his presence should benefit everyone on the team, including Ayo.
LaMelo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu are a perfect match for each other
LaMelo has a ton of gravity as a scorer. When he drives to the basket or is coming off pick-and-rolls, opposing defenses focus on taking this away. Still, he reads the game at an elite level and more often than not finds the open man. This blend of playmaking and scoring puts defenses in a tough spot, which makes life easier for his teammates.Â
The numbers are undeniable -- LaMelo makes everyone he plays with better. He feeds his teammates open shots and can especially create perimeter shots. Two clear examples that underscore this impact: Kon Knueppel shot 10.3 percent better from 3-point range, and Miles Bridges' 3-point percentage improved 7.9 percent with LaMelo on the court. Â
So while I do understand if you're worried about Ayo's 3-point consistency from his career numbers, LaMelo should ensure that he continues to hover around the 40 percent mark.Â
For as much as LaMelo can benefit Ayo, the same thing can be said vice versa. I've called Dosunmu a scalable complementary guard before. Meaning he can scale up to play a bigger role or thrive in a pure complementary role. These are the perfect types of players to pair with stars.Â
Regarding his fit with LaMelo, his spot-up shooting, defense, and ability to get in transition will allow him to fit smoothly with him, as he did with Anthony Edwards upon arriving at the trade deadline. All the same, if needed, Dosunmu can handle more on-ball duties; he especially thrives at attacking the rim and offers some solid playmaking. Dosunmu's famous 43-point outing in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets is a prime example of his on-ball brilliance.Â
Overall, LaMelo and Dosunmu should help ensure that we see the best versions of both players, which certainly includes Ayo's elite shooting continuing.
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