How Wisconsin star John Tonje performed in Utah Jazz's latest NBA Summer League game
The All-American wing had a quiet night offensively, as the Jazz fell 105-92, dropping to 1-4 in Summer League action. In 22 minutes of action, Tonje tallied just four points, six rebounds and two assists on 1-of-9 shooting from the field and 0-of-6 from 3-point range. He also turned the ball over six times.
The performance is a step back from his stellar Summer League debut last week. In a narrow overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the second-round draft pick notched 16 points, three rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes of action. That performance included an efficient 5-of-9 shooting clip from the field and 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Tonje's spot on the Jazz's active roster should be safe entering the 2025-26 season, regardless of his Summer League and preseason play. Utah was the worst team in the NBA last season, finishing with a 17-65 record. It hopes an incoming draft class of Tonje, Rutgers star Ace Bailey, Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. and St. John's guard R.J. Luis Jr. can help retool its roster and redirect the franchise's trajectory.
Eyes are on the future in Utah. Tonje should get an extended chance to etch his name into those plans.
Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bronny James set to make Drew League move
The post Bronny James set to make Drew League move appeared first on ClutchPoints. Although Bronny James didn't close out the NBA Summer League, his summer exploits are not through. According to Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, James will participate in the pro-am Drew League, a community-based league in South Central Los Angeles. The league was founded in 1973 by Alvin Willis as a means to unite the community through basketball. In addition, the best high school, college, and pro players would come to play Charles Drew Junior High School and connect with the community. Among the players who have completed include Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, Kevin Durant, Paul George, and LeBron James. Bronny is entering his second full NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Last year, he averaged 2.3 points per game and played in 27 games. During the Summer League, James averaged 14.3 points and 3.8 assists per game. He had a standout performance against the Boston Celtics, finishing with 18 points, five rebounds, and three assists. The Lakers are coming off a season in which they finished 50-32 before losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves. As for James, he is still very much living in the shadow of his father, who is heading into his 23rd season at the age of 40. But for the Drew League, this could be his breakout moment. Bronny James's coming-out party. The Drew League, much like the Rucker in Harlem, is a test of who can ball. In this instance, this is the time for Bronny to show what he has made of. Additionally, he could follow in his father's footsteps, who had tried his hand at this league. The people looking on will regard Bronny with a combination of anticipation and hesitation. But if he can show up and show out, there could be something to say about what he can bring to the Lakers. If Bronny can make it there, he can make it anywhere. Related: Lakers star Luka Doncic's EuroBasket plans receive update Related: Warriors, Lakers, NBA expansion headline offseason fan mailbag
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Former Texas A&M OF Braden Montgomery promoted to AA after steady surge in A+ ball
The Chicago White Sox are promoting Braden Montgomery to the Birmingham Barons (AA). Former Texas A&M outfielder and first-round pick Braden Montgomery is on the move, as the Chicago White Sox have promoted him to AA ball. MiLB Central announced that Montgomery was called up from the Winston-Salem Dash to the Birmingham Barons. The No. 26-ranked prospect has been remarkably consistent since joining the A+ Dash team and has flashed big-league potential in his 69 games played. He boasts a slash line of .260/.348/.445, with 38 RBIs and eight home runs. One area for improvement is his strikeout rate, which sits at 27.5% with 70 strikeouts. While it's not alarming, it is slightly higher than some other Top 100 outfielders, like Colt Emerson and Blake Mitchell, who hover in the low-to-mid 20% range. Still, Montgomery makes up for it with his on-base percentage and slugging ability as a switch-hitter. He's tallied 17 doubles and three triples among his 66 hits, making him a dangerous hitter with runners in scoring position. Below is the announcement via social media. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney chimes in on if Clemson or LSU is the real Death Valley
Dabo Swinney didn't dodge the question when asked on SportsCenter at ACC Media Days about the latest jab from LSU head coach Brian Kelly. With Clemson and LSU set to square off to begin the 2025 season, the long-running debate over which school owns the title of 'Death Valley' has once again taken center stage. 'Well, I think, first of all, both programs are for real. These are two great programs. We've met a couple times over the years. Great respect for LSU,' Swinney said. 'But I think if you just Google Coach McMillian, who was the head coach at PC — you can go and do that research on your own. But all that matters is how we handle our business in Clemson, South Carolina, on August 30th. So, that's our focus. But that stuff is historical facts, so I'll let you do the research on that. You can report back. I'll be tuned in for your report. You have a homework assignment.' Swinney was referring to Lonnie McMillian, the former head coach at Presbyterian College, who famously dubbed Clemson's Memorial Stadium 'Death Valley' after a 76-0 loss to the Tigers in 1945. Each time his team made the trip to Clemson, McMillian would tell reporters, 'I'm taking my boys to Death Valley.' The nickname stuck, and the media ran with it. By the mid-1940s, Clemson had fully adopted the label. Meanwhile, LSU didn't begin calling Tiger Stadium 'Death Valley' until 1959, and the name didn't really gain national recognition until several decades later. Clemson and Presbyterian opened every season from 1930 to 1957, giving McMillian plenty of opportunities to use the now-famous phrase. Over time, it became a staple of Clemson football tradition. Now, with both programs ranked among the sport's elite, the debate over which Death Valley is the 'real' one has added fuel ahead of their highly anticipated matchup. That answer might become a little clearer on August 30, when LSU makes the trip to Memorial Stadium in Clemson to open the 2025 college football season. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
