John Tonje
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The Celtics have signed two-way guard John Tonje to a 10-day NBA contract
The Boston Celtics will be returning to action from the All-Star break on Thursday night, and when they do, they will feature a very different-looking lineup. After swinging several deals before the trade deadline, the C’s moved on from a handful of guys at the backend of their bench in an effort to clear up salary cap space.
As of Thursday morning, the Celtics only had 12 players on their roster, meaning they had to add two more players before their upcoming contest. After reuniting with combo guard Dalano Banton earlier in the day, Boston’s front office made another intriguing move involving two-way rookie guard John Tonje, who was acquired in one of their aforementioned deals ahead of the trade deadline.
Celtics Sign John Tonje to 10-Day NBA Contract
Michael Scotto
The Boston Celtics are converting rookie two-way guard John Tonje to a standard 10-day NBA deal, George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told @hoopshype. Tonje, a former Wisconsin All-American, has been a standout with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League team.
Tonje spent six years playing basketball at the collegiate level, but it was his final year with the Wisconsin Badgers that caught the attention of NBA teams. In 37 games, Tonje averaged 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field, and that led to him being selected by the Utah Jazz with the No. 53 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
At the deadline, the Celtics sent veteran big man Chris Boucher to the Jazz in a salary dump, with Tonje coming back in return. While he hasn’t made his NBA debut yet, Tonje has starred in the G-League this season, as he’s now played in 20 total games, averaging 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 43.7% from the field.
As his numbers show, Tonje is a scorer first, and while he isn’t always efficient, he is typically finding ways to put points on the board for his team. With Boston still looking to add another key contributor or two, they decided to convert Tonje’s two-way contract to a 10-day NBA deal, giving the team the required 14 players it needs on its roster, while also buying the front office more time to add a proven player or two via free agency or the buyout market.
“The Boston Celtics are converting rookie two-way guard John Tonje to a standard 10-day NBA deal, George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told HoopsHype,” Michael Scotto reported in a post on X. “Tonje, a former Wisconsin All-American, has been a standout with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League team.”
Celtics Front Office Still Searching for Help on the Buyout Market
GettyBOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 29: Brad Stevens, president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, smiles during a press conference at Boston Celtics media day at the Auerbach Center on September 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
The buyout market has yet to really unfold, which has put the Celtics in a tough spot. In a perfect world, they’d probably bring in another guard or two to shore up their backcourt rotation, but they have yet to find a guy who fits their criteria. By signing both Tonje and the aforementioned Banton to 10-day contracts, that gives Boston some flexibility when it comes to building out its roster.
Chances are, Tonje will play sparingly, if at all, during his time with the C’s. However, should he find his way onto the court, he will surely be looking to prove that he can be the sort of sparkplug scorer off the bench that the team needs. The Celtics will return to action by kicking off a West Coast Road trip on Thursday night, with tip-off for their matchup against the Golden State Warriors scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.