John Tonje has a new NBA home; what's next for the former Badgers star

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John Tonje has a new NBA home; what's next for the former Badgers star

JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel · Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Mon, Jul 27, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Former University of Wisconsin men's basketball standout John Tonje has a new NBA home, signing with the Portland Trail Blazers on a two-way contract.

Tonje, who played in six games for the Boston Celtics as a rookie last year, averaged 2.5 points per game in his first season.

A two-way contract in the NBA means the player will split time between the NBA roster and the G League, restricted to 50 games in the NBA. Teams are allowed only three two-way contracts at a time; Tonje had the same arrangement with Boston.

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Wisconsin basketball senior John Tonje starred in 2024-25

Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) celebrates after a play during the first half against the UCLA Bruins at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday, March 14, 2025, during a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal game. Tonje had a game-high 26 points on 9 of 10 shooting, including 6 for 6 from three-point range.

(Robert Goddin, Imagn Images)

Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) passes the ball during the first half of their preseason game against UW-River Falls Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) is fouled by Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) during the second half of their game Friday, November 15, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) makes a fast break during the second half of their game against Arizona Friday, November 15, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) scores during the second half of their game against Arizona Friday, November 15, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) goes up against Marquette forward Ben Gold (12) during the second half of their game Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Marquette beat Wisconsin 88-74.
(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) throws down a dunk during the first half of their game against Michigan Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) is fouled by Michigan guard Nimari Burnett (4) during the second half of their game Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Michigan beat Wisconsin 67-64.
(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wisconsin guard John Tonje (9) drives past Michigan guard Nimari Burnett (4) during the second half of their game Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin. Michigan beat Wisconsin 67-64.
(Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) is fouled by Butler Bulldogs guard Kolby King (12) during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on December 14, 2024.
(Robert Goddin / Imagn Images)

Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) dunks the ball against the Butler Bulldogs during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 14, 2024, in Indianapolis.
(Robert Goddin / Imagn Images)

Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) goes to the basket against Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey (4) during the first half at Jersey Mike's Arena on January 6, 2025, in New Jersey.
(Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)

Mar 13, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) celebrates a made basket in the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, March 13, 2025, during a Big Ten tournament second-round game.
(Trevor Ruszkowski,Imagn Images)

Mar 13, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) goes up for a dunk during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, March 13, 2025, during a Big Ten tournament second-round game.
(Robert Goddin, Imagn Images)

Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) shoots the ball while Northwestern Wildcats forward Luke Hunger (33) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday, March 13, 2025, during a Big Ten tournament second-round game.
(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)

Tonje made a splash playing for the Celtics in the 2026 NBA Summer League, starting all five games and logging a team-high 14 3-pointers. In the Celtics' overtime win over the Toronto Raptors , Tonje scored 20 points and was 5-for-9 on 3-pointers.

"I'm pretty confident, maybe even delusional. I can't lose that. I think I'm an NBA player, and that's what I'm striving to get to…I like where I'm at right now, and just gonna keep working," Tonje was quoted on X.

Tonje, who spent four years at Colorado State and one year at Missouri, delivered a sensational single season at UW in 2024-25, averaging a gaudy 19.6 points and earning second-team All-American honors by the Associated Press. It helped get him drafted in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, taken 53rd overall.

There aren't many Badgers in the NBA at the moment, but Tonje does unite with one of them. Big man Micah Potter was claimed off waivers by the Blazers in early July. Potter has gotten NBA minutes with Detroit , Utah and Indiana in his career, including 48 games with the Pacers last season.

Apr 12, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard John Tonje (8) shoots during the second half against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden.

Former Badgers guard Chucky Hepburn recently re-upped his own two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors; he played in two NBA games last season.

Nigel Hayes-Davis , who played 27 games with the Phoenix Suns last year and whose rights briefly belonged to the Milwaukee Bucks , has signed with a Greek team in the EuroLeague, where he's a two-time all-first-team selection and EuroLeague champion.

Gabriella Hartlaub contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: John Tonje has a new NBA home; what's next for the former Badgers star

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