After much speculation as to if it was going to happen, the Wisconsin Badgers will in fact be well represented in the NBA next season, as former Badger John Tonje joins another Wisconsin alumnus – Micah Potter – as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. This marks Tonje’s third stop in just one calendar year since kicking off his NBA tenure and his third two-way contract as well.
The Portland Trail Blazers are signing guard John Tonje on a two-way NBA contract, George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. Tonje appeared in six games for the Celtics last season as a rookie.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2026
The 25-year-old landed this contract directly following a solid Summer League outing with the Boston Celtics, in which he averaged 14.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game, shooting 51.0% from the field and 45.2% from three. Tonje wasn't just a scoring and shooting threat either, as he also showed the ability to guard well at the point of attack.
Throughout all of Summer League he was a pest when guarding the ball, consistently coming up with timely steals and being solid in a variety of lineups. Tonje was, of course, still his typical self as a scorer as well, scoring effectively from all three levels and hitting shots from a variety of platforms.
What Portland has to Offer
Now in the fold with Portland, Tonje will get another chance to prove himself at the NBA level, albeit his opportunity will be limited. Last season, despite spending the entire year on a two-way deal like the one he is on now, Tonje appeared in just six games, none of which came before his move to the East Coast to join the Celtics.
Former #Badger John Tonje today;
— Owen Jury (@ojury_007) July 11, 2026
20 points
5 rebounds
2 assists
3 steals
5/9 3pt
Game winning steal and slam👀 pic.twitter.com/s0hsiBlpmK
His opportunity with the Trail Blazers won't come any easier either, as Tonje will now be competing with one of the most loaded backcourts in basketball for playing time. Between Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, Ja Morant, Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija, Portland has no shortage of guys who will demand touches as guards or wings, meaning extra clock will be scarce.
Nonetheless, Tonje will get his shot at some point with the team, being given a chance to prove he is capable of holding down real NBA minutes. When given that chance, it will be pivotal for Tonje to prove he can do a variety of things, showcasing the defensive malleability he flashed in Summer League on top of his proven offensive prowess.
It's a tall task for any player on a two-way contract to earn their way to a standard deal, as the modern NBA talent pool is deeper than ever. With that said, his chance will come, and when it does, Tonje has a chance to solidify himself as an NBA player for years to come.
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