John Tonje, the former Wisconsin Badgers standout, has taken his first steps onto the NBA hardwood with the Boston Celtics. Signing a two-way contract last week, Tonje made his debut against the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. While his time on the court was brief-just four minutes without a score and a personal foul-this moment marks a significant milestone in his basketball journey.
The Wisconsin Badgers’ official social media gave Tonje a warm shoutout, celebrating his transition from college to the professional stage:
"Badgers ➡️ Big League
Congrats to @johntonje1 on making his NBA debut with the @celtics!"
Tonje’s path to the NBA began when he was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2025, picked in the second round at 23rd overall. During the preseason with the Jazz, he played in two games, contributing two points and three rebounds over 14 minutes.
Now, with the Celtics, Tonje aims to score his first official NBA points. Including his preseason appearances, he’s 0-for-5 from the field. His next opportunity to make his mark could come this Friday when the Celtics face the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden.
Reflecting on his college days, Tonje was a scoring machine with the Badgers in the 2024-25 season, boasting an average of 19.6 points per game with an impressive 46.5% shooting from the field and 38.8% from three-point range over 37 games.
Tonje's journey is just beginning, and fans will be eager to see how he continues to develop and contribute at the professional level.