An Illinois legend is leaving the state.
Ayo Dosunmu’s time as a basketball star in the state of Illinois has come to an end.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported this morning that the Chicago Bulls traded Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips were traded in exchange for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks, per Charania.
Dosunmu played four and a half seasons for his hometown team, appearing in 324 games and starting 164. The Chicago native finishes his Bulls career with averages of 10.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 3.3 APG on 50.4% FG and 37.7% 3PT.
The 38th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Dosunmu was thrust into the Bulls’ starting lineup as a rookie. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Ayo’s trade value was at an all-time high this season, which explains why the now rebuilding Bulls would move on from a beloved fan favorite. Dosunmu has shot a career-best 45.1% from beyond the arc while averaging 15.0 PPG in 45 games in 2025-26.
One of four active Illini in the NBA, the 2021 Bob Cousy Award winner and consensus first-team All-American now joins fellow Illini Terrence Shannon Jr. on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Shannon Jr., the 27th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has appeared in 54 games for Minnesota over his two seasons in the league. He’s currently battling a left foot strain that has sidelined him for more than a month.
While at Illinois, Shannon Jr. brought Illinois to an Elite Eight and was named to the First-team All-Big Ten twice. He was named a Third-team All-American in 2024 as well.
Both Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr.’s jerseys are honored by the program and hang in the State Farm Center rafters.
The T-Wolves, led by superstar Anthony Edwards, (32-20) sit at 5th place in the Western Conference. The addition of Dosunmu and return of Shannon Jr. will surely make Minnesota one of the most electrifying watches in the NBA.
Category: General Sports
