After a spectacular game one and two of Summer League, where John Tonje scored 20 and 17 points, respectively, whilst shooting 61.5% from three, he came back down to earth in game three, logging just 5 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist, shooting 2/8 from the field and 1/6 from three.
Tonje lost his minutes by a combined 26 points and struggled mightily to make an impact. Obviously, it wasn't expected for him to continue to play the way he had in his first two games, with those undoubtedly being outlier shooting performances. However, finding a middle ground between elite games and off nights is important.
Steals it, slams it 💥 pic.twitter.com/Xwt8YdRfSq
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 13, 2026
What NBA teams want more than anything is consistency, especially from role players. Obviously, it can't be expected for a player to have a great game every night, but finding a couple of things that a player can bring to the table, regardless of game context, is pivotal for long-term success.
With that said, Tonje still has a chance to prove himself with two games remaining in Summer League. The former Badger standout has already shown what he can be when he is on, both providing elite shooting ability along with some fun stuff at the point of attack defensively.
What Waits Ahead
However, his next game this upcoming Wednesday in particular stands out as an opportunity for Tonje to prove his worth. Teams love to see how players like him battle through adversity, even in non-formal settings like Summer League, making this a perfect chance for him to prove his worth.
Three 2nd-quarter triples for JT pic.twitter.com/cfwWxkFmA3
— Maine Celtics (@MaineCeltics) July 12, 2026
If Tonje can have any resemblance of a bounce-back game and regain the buzz he had just a handful of days ago, then the chances of him securing a contract become all the more likely. Currently, the Celtics have three open roster spots. One is a standard deal that would fill out their 15-man roster, and the other two are two-way contracts—something Tonje is, in fact, eligible for.
Currently, two candidates clearly stand out as two-way candidates for the Celtics, one of which being Tonje and the other being undrafted free agent Milos Uzan. Obviously, Boston will shop the market for other candidates, doing a thorough search for any other potential targets.
With that said, it obviously doesn't hurt Tonje's case that he already has built a reputation in the Celtics front office, both through his play this Summer League and last year in the G League. Point being, a strong outing through the rest of Summer League could lock up Tonje on an NBA contract for next season.
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