Former Wisconsin basketball star appeals to Badgers fans with NFL fandom
Tonje, who is on the short list of recent Wisconsin basketball greats despite spending just one year with the program, took to X on Tuesday to share the following: "Never had a football team growing up, but I went to Wisconsin, so I think I'm a Packers fan."
Of course, not all Wisconsin basketball fans are also Green Bay Packers fans. However, given Wisconsin basketball's place in the state's larger sports ecosystem, that dual fandom is quite common. Tonje's play already did the heavy lifting with the fanbase during the season. Now playing in the NBA, he still maintains a connection to Wisconsin and the Badger fanbase.
The All-American wing began his college basketball career at Colorado State back in 2019. He played four years for the Rams, headlined by per-game averages of 14.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists as a senior in 2022-23. The Omaha, Nebraska, native then transferred to Missouri for his fifth year, though he missed nearly the entire season due to injury.
Finally, Tonje joined the Badgers for his final collegiate season in 2024-25. He delivered one of the greatest seasons in program history, averaging 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists and finishing just eight points shy of Frank Kaminsky's single-season scoring record. That record would have been his had the Badgers defeated BYU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Tonje, who recently concluded the NBA Summer League session with the Jazz, is now looking to make his mark at the professional level. His connection to Wisconsin fans was already strong after his record season with the Badgers. Once the NFL season starts, he can also now share the Packer fan experience.
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