Every cloud has a silver lining. That’s what John Tonje must be thinking, having missed what was supposed to be his final year of college due to injury and then the following year (in the 2024-25 season with the Wisconsin Badgers) shined enough to sneak into the draft and now achieve a two-way contract with the Salt Lake City franchise.
The 24-year-old forward finished last season averaging 19,6 points, 5,3 rebounds, and 1,8 assists, numbers he achieved by shooting 46,5 percent from the field, 38,8 percent from three-point range, and 90,9 percent from the free throw line.
His performance in the NCAA tournament earned him a consensus second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection. Following these accolades, he was selected by the Jazz with the 53rd overall pick in the draft in June.
Tonje thus takes the only vacancy of two-way contract that remained in Utah, as the other two spots are occupied by Oscar Tshiebwe and Elijah Harkless. The Salt Lake City team now officially has 19 players under contract, two below the preseason limit.
(Photograph by Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images)