What should every NBA team strive for? To win a championship. That’s the ultimate goal. Yet, only one team gets to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy year to year. Moreover, less than half of the 30 franchises have won a title in the last 25 years. Winning it all isn’t easy.
Aiming for more realistic goals is reasonable. Such as making a playoff appearance—something the Chicago Bulls haven’t done since 2022. Or perhaps making a postseason push for the third time in a decade would be something to strive for.
While the Chicago Bulls remain the NBA’s most popular team based on average yearly attendance, their performance over the past decade has been disappointing. Since 2015, the Bulls have managed just three postseason victories.
Still, that hasn’t dampened the bold ambitions of one of the Bulls’ most seasoned players. Offering a glimpse into his life through his vlog, Ayo Dosunmu shared his goals for the Bulls in the upcoming season.
Ayo Dosunmu has the postseason on his mind
The 25-year-old guard said, “We’re going to make the playoffs this year. You got to say it. You got to believe what you said. If you don’t believe what you said, you’re not going to be successful. Believe it. Keep saying it. We’re making the playoffs. We’re making the playoffs. We’re making the playoffs. We’re making the playoffs.”
Dosunmu’s projection is bold and also a breath of fresh air. The discourse surrounding the Bulls has been pessimistic for far too long. Fans have been upset, and rightfully so, as Chicago has routinely been bounced from the Play-In Tournament like clockwork, a fate even worse than perpetual tanking.
At least with tanking comes an agenda. The Bulls have meandered their way to the ninth or 10th seed only to receive a late-lottery pick in doing so. If there’s a takeaway from Dosunmu’s proclamation, it’s that he’s also tired of the Play-In Tournament losses.
Of course, there’s always the crowd that entertains the idea of flat-out rebuilding. The Bulls should have probably done so a year or two ago. Yet, with ownership keen on trying to win games, a postseason bid is the best outcome, especially in a weakened Eastern Conference.
Chicago’s roster still isn’t primed for contention, and while Dosunmu isn’t suggesting otherwise, securing a postseason spot would be a significant step forward for the Bulls’ young team. Getting a taste of playoff basketball would be a boon not only for fans but also for Chicago’s core players.
