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John Tonje bounces back with stronger showing in second NBA Draft combine scrimmage

Tonje struggled in his first scrimmage at the NBA Draft combine, but he bounced back in a big way for his second and final showing in front of scouts.
Lorin Cox|
Mar 16, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) dribbles downcourt during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Mar 16, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) dribbles downcourt during the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

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For John Tonje, it's not about how you start; it's how you finish.

The Wisconsin Badgers guard struggled in his first five-on-five scrimmage at the NBA Draft combine, but he redeemed himself in his second and final scrimmage of the event.

After scoring just three points the first time, Tonje tied for the team lead with 17 points on Thursday to go with seven rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.

He still had trouble connecting from deep, going just 1-of-5 from the three point line, but he was 7-of-10 on all other shots in the scrimmage.

That shooting performance matches what Tonje showcased earlier in the week, lighting up drills with the fifth-best shooting percentage among all participants.

His strong showing should leave a lingering positive impression on NBA scouts who were watching to see how he might separate himself from the competition.

The combine isn't going to skyrocket his draft stock overnight, but it will make teams think twice about how far he could fall on draft weekend.

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Lorin Cox
LORIN COX

Lorin Cox is the managing editor of Wisconsin Badgers on SI. He has been covering Badgers sports since 2014, when he was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. He previously wrote for the Wisconsin State Journal, NBC Sports Chicago and USA Today Sports Media Group, and he is a former analyst for Pro Football Focus.

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