Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje for most of the 2024-2025 college basketball season was not on a radar to potentially be drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft. Well, with just a month or so away from the 2025 NBA Draft, there is a chance that Tonje could be getting drafted after all.
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Mar 22, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) attempts a shot against Brigham Young Cougars guard Dawson Baker (25) as center Fousseyni Traore (45) and forward Mihailo Boskovic (5) look on in the first half at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
He was one of the top players in the BIG10 Conference during the 2024-2025 season. Tonje also impressed NBA scouts during the NBA scouting combine last week in Chicago, Illinois. Where will the former Badgers guard get drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft?
Wisconsin Badgers Guard John Tonje’s Draft Stock On the Rise
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Mar 20, 2025; Denver, CO, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Tonje (9) looks on during the second half against the Montana Grizzlies in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Ben Kenney of Badgers Wire talked about where the former Wisconsin guard could be drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft. Well, he talked about different opinions of where Tonje could possibly land. Kenney said,
“The veteran showed out during one of the event’s five-on-five scrimmages, totaling 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes of action. That performance followed stellar shooting totals during earlier drills. According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, only four players shot a better percentage than the former Badger.
Just how much is Tonje’s strong combine showing helping his draft stock? According to one longtime basketball writer, he could sneak into the end of the first round.
However, that optimistic projection and positive momentum did not affect ESPN’s latest post-combine mock draft. Tonje is slotted at No. 48 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies in the update. Notably, it comes six days after ESPN projected the former Badger No. 47 to the Milwaukee Bucks.”
It would be a major shock if Tonje was drafted near the end of the first-round in the 2025 NBA Draft. There is a much better chance for him to be drafted in the second-round of the 2025 NBA Draft compared to the first round. Tonje will most likely go near toward the end of the second round rather than the beginning.
Assuming he does get drafted, he is most likely going to start his career in the G-League. In 37 games played last season with Wisconsin, he averaged 19.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, and shot 46.5% from the field. He is also 6’5″ and weighs 218 lbs. The former Badgers guard has been impressing NBA scouts, and it will be interesting to see if he does get drafted or not also.
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