What former Wisconsin star John Tonje said in his introductory press conference with Jazz
Just a few days after hearing his name called on day two of the 2025 NBA draft, Tonje ventured to Salt Lake City, Utah, for his first meeting with local media members. He, alongside lottery pick and former Rutgers star Ace Bailey and NCAA champion Walter Clayton Jr., shared their initial thoughts on Utah and the opportunity to compete on a professional stage.
Prior to the draft, several outlets projected Tonje to fall in the mid-40's. The Jazz elected to select the Nebraska native at No. 53 overall, a slight slip for the 6-foot-5 scoring machine. Nonetheless, Tonje appeared optimistic.
'That was a little bit outside my range," Tonje told the media. "At the end of the day, I'm super excited to be here and just so happy I'm here with the Jazz.'
Unlike Bailey, a consensus lottery pick before he even reached Rutgers, Tonje's journey to reach the NBA was a bit unorthodox.
As a high schooler, Tonje received just three offers from Omaha, Colorado State and Missouri Western State. As a freshman with the Rams, he averaged 3.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game as a reserve.
The future NBA draftee would spend four years with Colorado State and eventually started all 33 games as a senior with per-game averages of 14.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. A summer with the Cameroon National Team in during the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in 2023, coupled with a 2023-24 medical redshirt season, positioned him for an explosive final year as a college player.
With the Badgers, Tonje was named a 2025 Second Team All-American, 2025 Naismith Player of the Year Semifinalist and member of the 2025 All-Big Ten first team. He averaged just under 20 points per game off 46.5% shooting from the field, 39% from 3 and 91% from the free-throw line, punctuating his season with a 37-point performance against BYU in the NCAA Tournament.
Not coincidentally, Tonje's growth from an athlete with a minimal recruiting profile to college star prompted him to reflect on his basketball adventure.
'I think I had a lot of adversity," Tonje said. "Had to work my way up. I've been the last guy on the bench and then the guy at the top of the scouting report, so I think I'm someone that can understand all types of roles on the team, how to face adversity and try to get better every day.'
He will now look to showcase his dexterity on the hardwood when the Jazz begin their summer league run in Salt Lake City on July 5.
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