All Badgers

Former Badgers breakout star traded to Boston Celtics in NBA trade deadline deal

One of the Wisconsin Badgers most prominent breakout stars was on the move at the NBA trade deadline, getting shipped off to the Boston Celtics.
Lorin Cox|
Former Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Boston Celtics at the NBA trade deadline.
Former Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) was traded from the Utah Jazz to the Boston Celtics at the NBA trade deadline. | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

In this story:

Wisconsin BadgersBoston Celtics

John Tonje's professional basketball career is just getting started, and already he's been traded.

Right before the NBA trade deadline Thursday, the Utah Jazz agreed to a trade that sent the rookie guard from Wisconsin to the Boston Celtics.

Sign Up For the Wisconsin Daily Digest - OnSI’s Free Wisconsin Badgers Newsletter

Tonje was selected 53rd overall by the Jazz in the NBA Draft this past summer.

They signed him to a two-way contract, allowing him to remain part of the Jazz organization but play for their G-League team, the Salt Lake City Stars.

Utah retained Tonje's rights, which allowed them to include him in a trade.

He has yet to make his NBA regular season debut, though he was involved in their Summer League and preseason training camp.

In the G-League, he was teammates on the Stars with former Badgers Max Klesmit and Steven Crowl. Tonje won't have any Wisconsin connections on the Celtics.

Related: Former Wisconsin Badgers star traded to Milwaukee Bucks at NBA trade deadline

Like in Utah, he will face an uphill battle for playing time and is more likely to be assigned to their G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics.

Tonje was a breakout star for the Badgers after transferring in from Missouri for his final collegiate season. He led Wisconsin in scoring in 2024-25, on his way to earning first-team All-Big Ten honors.

He wasn't the only former Badger to get traded at the NBA trade deadline, as the Milwaukee Bucks acquired Nigel Hayes-Davis from the Phoenix Suns.

More Wisconsin Badgers News:

Published
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.

Home/Basketball