The Utah Jazz selected Wisconsin basketball star John Tonje with the 53rd overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft on Thursday.
The All-American wing makes the jump to the NBA level after a standout senior season at Wisconsin. He averaged 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting a terrific 46.5% from the field, 39% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line. Had the Badgers defeated BYU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Tonje was in line to capture the program’s all-time single-season scoring record.
The former Missouri and Colorado State transfer becomes the first Badger drafted since Johnny Davis went No. 10 overall to the Washington Wizards in 2022, plus the second since Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker were each first-round picks back in 2015. He joins a Jazz draft class that also includes Rutgers forward Ace Bailey (No. 5 overall) and Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. (No. 18).
Those three incoming rookies will help the Jazz improve from a 17-65 2024-25 season. The team has not made the playoffs since it did so for six straight years from 2016-22.
Tonje will likely be in action during the NBA Summer League, which is scheduled to take place from July 10 to 20. Despite the now-former Badger’s top-tier collegiate production, he still needs to prove his staying power at the NBA level.
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