John Tonje gave the Boston Celtics exactly the kind of Summer League jolt he needed, and he did it in a way that should have turned heads across the NBA.
After Wisconsin Badger fans watched a rough Day 1 that included coach’s DNPs for both Nick Boyd and Steven Crowl, Tonje stepped in and delivered the kind of performance that can change the conversation. The former All-American entered Summer League still unsigned, back with Boston and trying to show he belongs after flashing in his rookie year.
The first half didn’t offer much fireworks from him offensively. Tonje went scoreless, but he still found ways to matter. His work came mostly on defense, where he played physical on the ball and helped slow down Toronto’s guards.
Then the second half arrived, and Tonje took over.
Whatever the reset was at halftime, it worked. He came out aggressive and finished with five made threes after the break, turning a quiet opening 20 minutes into a 20-point night. He also put the game away with a steal and slam that sealed the overtime win for Boston.
John Tonje (20 PTS, 3 STL, 5 3PM) SEALS the Boston overtime NBA Summer League victory 💥 pic.twitter.com/EGpC3CKKIV
- NBA (@NBA) July 11, 2026
Tonje’s impact wasn’t limited to scoring. He was active and disruptive on defense, pressuring ball handlers, forcing turnovers, and helping turn stops into points. He also knocked down a couple of spot-up threes in transition situations, making the most of the chances the Raptors gave him.
It was the kind of all-around showing that answers one of the biggest questions around him as a prospect: can he affect the game when the ball isn’t in his hands? Against Toronto, the answer was a clear yes.
That doesn’t mean one game rewrites everything. Tonje still has to prove this level can hold up over the rest of Summer League, and NBA teams will weigh the full body of work, not just one hot stretch. He has years of tape working against him in that evaluation, which is exactly why this week matters so much.
Still, this was the kind of outing that helps. If Tonje can come anywhere close to this level the rest of the way, he’ll give himself a real shot to land on an NBA roster in the fall.
In Other News...
Tyler Herro Just Reopened Wisconsin's Oldest Recruiting Wound
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Herro framed the flip as a business decision, noting that staying with Wisconsin would likely have changed the entire arc of his career and left him in a very different place than the one he occupies now. He also spoke warmly about his relationship with the Heat organization, adding another layer to a story that Badgers fans have never quite stopped revisiting. For Wisconsin, it is a reminder that the recruiting loss was never just about one player leaving the state, but about a door that closed on a version of the future the program still wonders about. [Read more 🡒]
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The first reaction from fans has been less about the press conference and more about the job ahead, especially with football still under the microscope after three straight disappointing seasons. Wisconsin has put more money into the program this offseason, but it is still chasing the financial level of the Big Tens biggest spenders, which makes Eichorsts next moves matter even more. The early debate is not whether he knows the place. It is whether he can make the Badgers look like a program closing the gap. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce West Could Be The Badgers Answer In The Secondary
Bryce Wests arrival gives Wisconsin a different kind of option in the secondary, one that comes with Big Ten pedigree and some real flexibility. The former Ohio State cornerback has already seen the field in multiple games for the Buckeyes, and after entering the transfer portal he heads to Madison with three years of eligibility left and a chance to become part of the Badgers plans for 2026.
What makes West especially intriguing is how the staff expects to use him. Wisconsin sees enough versatility to move him around and keep him on the field depending on the opponent, which matters for a defense that wants more answers in the back end. If West settles in quickly, he could end up being one of the more important additions to the roster before the season even gets here. [Read more 🡒]