For the first time in his career, Ayo Dosunmu failed to play at least 76 games. The 25-year-old guard was limited to 46 appearances last season due to shoulder instability, which ultimately led to surgery. Since being drafted by his hometown Chicago Bulls in 2021, he had appeared in 94.7 percent of their contests.

Moreover, Dosunmu missed just six games in three seasons at Illinois, establishing himself as one of the most durable players in basketball. His shoulder procedure in March was the first surgery of his life, making last season’s shutdown a truly unprecedented event.

Surprisingly, the Bulls thrived without Dosunmu in the lineup, posting a 15–7 record after his injury. Recently re-signed Josh Giddey took his game to new heights, averaging 20.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game following Dosunmu’s departure from the lineup. Giddey’s backcourt-mate, Coby White, also impressed, totaling 26.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists from March 1 onward.

Not only did the starting guards flourish, but midseason acquisition Tre Jones, who essentially took over Dosunmu’s primary reserve role, averaged 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, while shooting a blistering 58.8 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Ayo Dosunmu is entering the most pivotal season of his career

Despite three-and-a-half seasons of steady production, Dosunmu suddenly feels replaceable in the Windy City. And that perception comes at a decisive moment in his career. Having never before returned from a major injury—let alone surgery—he now enters the 2025–26 season as an impending free agent.

Dosunmu will play next season on the final year of the three-year, $21 million contract he signed in 2023. At $7.5 million, the 25-year-old guard will earn well below the league average of $13.9 million. His salary ranks 186th out of 359 players, a notch below this year’s seventh overall pick, Jeremiah Fears.

Earning less in base salary than an unproven rookie, Dosunmu will enter next season with a chip on his shoulder, not only to impress the Bulls’ brass, but rival franchises as well.

This comes as Chicago faces yet another monumental predicament after re-signing Giddey. Last season’s leading scorer, White, is up for a contract extension and, like Dosunmu, will earn less than the league average in 2025–26. As a result, the combo guard will be seeking a sizable deal, likely north of the $100 million that Giddey received.

As a result, guards Dosunmu and White will be seeking new deals simultaneously. White, the more heralded of the two, led Chicago in scoring and emerged as a go-to option following Zach LaVine’s departure at last year’s trade deadline.

White is assumed to be the bigger priority. But if the Bulls aren’t comfortable with his asking price and have confidence in Dosunmu’s ability to start alongside Giddey in the backcourt, it could be the Illinois product who earns the long-term contract.

Still, the writing is on the wall for Dosunmu after Chicago signed Jones to a three-year, $24 million contract earlier this offseason. Jones may be less proven and less versatile than Dosunmu, but if he matches or exceeds Dosunmu’s impact, the 6-foot-5 guard could find himself searching for a new home.

The 2025–26 season will be a prove-it campaign for Dosunmu, but that’s nothing new for the Chicago native. After falling to the second round in the 2021 NBA Draft, he has consistently exceeded expectations.