Boston Celtics sign former Badgers star John Tonje to two-way contract
Former Wisconsin Badgers star John Tonje signs a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics, continuing his NBA journey.
The path John Tonje has taken to stick in the NBA doesn’t really lend itself to neat timelines or straight lines. It’s been layered, a little unconventional, and — fittingly — defined by patience and timing.
On Sunday, the Boston Celtics announced they had signed Tonje to a two-way contract, keeping the former Wisconsin basketball star guard in their organization.
For Tonje, this is the reward for staying afloat and carving out space in a league that doesn’t promise much to second-round picks, let alone sixth-year college players who didn’t take the most direct route to the draft.
His journey started at Colorado State, where he spent four seasons and helped the Rams reach the NCAA Tournament in 2022. By his senior year, Tonje was already a proven scorer, averaging 14.6 points per game and showing the kind of off-ball feel and shot-making that keeps coaches interested. A brief stop at Missouri followed, but it was his final move — to Wisconsin — that ultimately reshaped how his career would be viewed.
What happened during the 2024–25 season, playing for head coach Greg Gard, wasn’t just productive. It was one of the best in program history.
Tonje averaged 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across 37 games for the Badgers. He became a consensus Second Team All-American, a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection, and a Naismith Player of the Year semifinalist. Wisconsin leaned on him, and he answered with a level of consistency that separated him from most star players in the Big Ten.
The numbers still jump off the page.
Tonje scored 724 total points, the second-most in a single season in Wisconsin history, trailing only Frank Kaminsky. He set program records for single-season free throws made (231) and free-throw percentage (90.9%), while shooting 38.8% from beyond the arc. The scoring outbursts were memorable, too: 41 points against Arizona, multiple 30-plus point performances against top-tier Big Ten competition, and an ability to close games that the Badgers simply didn’t have before he arrived in Madison.
That season made Tonje the fourth Badgers player drafted since 2015, when the Utah Jazz selected him No. 53 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, joining Kaminsky, Sam Dekker, and Johnny Davis. It also earned the 6-foot-5 wing a two-way deal to begin his professional career, where Tonje spent most of his time with the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League playing alongside former teammates Steven Crowl and Max Klesmit.
Over 14 appearances with Salt Lake City, he averaged 17.9 points in 29.1 minutes per game while shooting an efficient 50.9% from the field, 41.0% from beyond the arc on solid volume, and 92.3% at the free-throw line.
The NBA door cracked open again in early February when Utah dealt Tonje to Boston in exchange for Chris Boucher, a future second-round pick, and cash considerations. After settling in with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s front office converted his deal into a 10-day contract on Feb. 19.
Tonje made his NBA debut on Feb. 24 in a win at Phoenix, logging four minutes, before recording his first career points days later against Brooklyn, where he finished with two points on 2-of-2 free throws, two rebounds, and an assist in five minutes during Boston’s 148–111 victory.
That 10-day deal expired Sunday. The opportunity didn’t.
Boston’s decision to re-sign Tonje to a two-way contract signals belief in what he can continue to become. His role will likely remain limited, with minutes coming in spot situations or late-season games if seeding is secured, but that’s how most NBA careers for second-round picks begin.
Stick around. Improve. Be ready when your number gets called.
For Wisconsin fans, this is another reminder that Tonje’s one year spent with the Badgers wasn’t just a footnote. It was the launch point. And now, he’s still fighting for a chance in the NBA, which is never a small thing.
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I won't forget John Tonje. He left a permanent footprint in my mind in his season with the Badgers. He is a classy, down-to-earth, ultra-talented, driven young man who WILL leave that footprint with the Boston fan base and all over the NBA. Can't wait to see him succeed in his career. We were lucky to have him play for the Badgers! GO TONJE!