How family has kept Dosunmu grounded during rookie year

Keep chopping wood.

It’s not only one of Ayo Dosunmu’s favorite sayings, it also could work well for a book title.

And perhaps Dosunmu will get to that task, which is a lofty goal of his, after his wildly successful rookie season with the Chicago Bulls ends.

Throughout it, Dosunmu has been typing notes and reminders in his phone, little moments he doesn’t want to forget. Successes or failures, it doesn’t matter. He takes them all in as part of the overall experience.

It’s a practice he started during his decorated, three-year career at the University of Illinois.

“When I first got to college, every month, good or bad, whatever happened, I wrote it down because I wanted to look back at like, ‘Wow, this is what I went through,’” Dosunmu said on the latest edition of the Bulls Talk Podcast. “When I just went back, actually the Michigan State game, I was actually viewing my notes and I was seeing like times where I'd be walking and I'd be saying, ‘I can't wait to win this championship and then go to the NBA.’

"Looking back at it was fun because now I'm understanding that I went through the process. It was hard, you know, going through times where I was going through adversity where, you know, I couldn't make a shot, where we were losing.

“Seeing those notes and then, you know, getting through the storm and now it’s sunny outside. That brought a smile to my face.”

The foundation of Dosunmu’s philosophy stems from his family. He watched his grandparents and parents sacrifice to put him and his three siblings in the best position to succeed.

Over a wide-ranging, nearly-40-minute interview, Dosunmu kept returning to the themes of family and faith and work ethic.

“It pushed me so much because I understand how hard both of them have worked,” Dosunmu said. “You know, my grandfather had been a professor, him working to make ends meet for my Dad and my Aunts and Uncles. And then my Dad, I see him working for UPS, long 20-hour shifts over time just to make ends meet for me and just their work ethic and their ability to provide for their family and their ability to never complain.

“I always have that work hat on and just continue to keep chopping wood. Staying blessed, staying respectful, humble but also being hungry at the same time.”

Not all local products have handled the delicate task of playing for their hometown NBA franchise with similar aplomb. Unsurprisingly, though Dosunmu is aware of the potential cons to such a situation, he focuses merely on the positives.

“If you don’t have the right people in your circle, if you listen to the wrong people, it can be a distraction because then everyone feels entitled to your time,” he said. “I’m blessed that my family is very educated. They’re very intelligent. They’re very thoughtful. It’s like they been preparing me for this, thinking about it now, the last 10 years.

“We’re a tight-knit family. We love enjoying each other’s company, understanding that at the end of the day, I’m here to play basketball. And they support me doing that and make sure my head is straight.”

The Dosunmu family has a saying: Keeping it funky. That means, good game or bad game, good day or bad day, they break it down in real talk. No wasted words.

If you’re wondering where his level-headedness and maturity comes from, that’s a solid place to start.

“It’s no sugar coating. It is what it is, and I'm used to that. So really, I hear from them after the game right away. They tell me what it is, how I play,” Dosunmu said. “So now, whenever they say something, I really value it because I understand that they're not telling me something just trying to be a yes man. Like, I have none of that in my family. So, you know, they lead me in the right direction.”

On Friday, Dosunmu’s family will be in Cleveland, poised to watch him compete in the Rising Stars Challenge as part of All-Star weekend. It’s another sign of his success — one that will, no doubt, be kept in perspective.

Dosunmu quickly has become a fan favorite at the United Center. Whenever public address announcer Tim Sinclair utters his name, it often draws some of the loudest ovations.

Having played locally at Morgan Park High School and then starring at the University of Illinois, Dosunmu recognizes he’s not merely a fan favorite. For some, he has become a symbol of what you can achieve when you combine hard work with talent and dreams.

“It means a lot,” Dosunmu said of the home crowd embracing him. “It means that I have to keep continuing to work. Kids looking up to me, kids that want to be like Ayo.

“The reality of it is that I’m blessed. Each night, if I’m tired, I try to keep going because I understand people are looking at me. If I have to sign 100 autographs, I sign 100 autographs because I know people are looking up to me. Me being from Chicago, me going to Illinois, I know that makes it even better. People want to cheer for me. People want to see me do well. I take it as a blessing.”

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