The top Wisconsin Badgers selection in the draft weeks ago has finally made his NBA Summer League debut after suffering an ankle injury.

John Tonje, a former Colorado State and Missouri guard, transferred to Madison for this past season which turned out to be a monumental decision for both parties. The Badgers put together one of the better seasons in recent history while Tonje earned numerous honors and propelled himself into draft conversations. The guard previously was not on any draft boards, but landed with the Utah Jazz in the second-round after putting together a marvelous season with the Wisconsin Badgers.

The start of the Summer League season for the former Wisconsin Badgers guard has been less than exciting, however. Tonje suffered a tough ankle injury just days before the Summer League kicked off in Salt Lake city for the Utah Jazz. The guard had not made his way onto the court for the Jazz until last night when Tonje started for the team against the San Antonio Spurs in the third Summer League game in Las Vegas.

Shooting is the biggest and perhaps only reason the Jazz took the draft approach that was conducted. For Tonje, earning a potential full-time NBA roster spot in the future will require a combination of excellent shooting and great basketball IQ.

Last season, the Jazz were one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA, finishing in the middle of the pack for most offensive categories and the bottom of the pack for overall scoring and accuracy. Clear changes are needed in Utah and adding more players to the court who are comfortable with taking any type of shot has been something the Jazz have made a point of doing.

Wisconsin Badgers Powerful Alumni Guard Impresses During 2025 Summer League Debut 2 Mar 20, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) shoots the ball against Montana Grizzlies guard Money Williams (0) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

During his first action with the Jazz, Tonje shot the basketball well from the field going 4-for-7 from three-point range with another bucket and two free-throws to his name. The guard finished the game with 16 points, three rebounds, and three assists while also securing a steal. The Jazz did not get the win in the end, but the offense of Tonje and his accuracy from the field was certainly impressive during his debut and first start.

While Tonje shot the basketball at a great rate, the issues the guard ran into involved foul trouble. The guard recorded five fouls and while the performance was just a small glimpse, improving his positioning on defense seems like something that the guard may need to focus on at the next level.

Wisconsin Badgers Powerful Alumni Guard Impresses During 2025 Summer League Debut 3 Jul 14, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Jazz forward John Tonje (17) celebrates with guard Isaiah Collier (8) after scoring against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images