John Tonje Position: Wing Height: 6'4.75" Weight: 211.8 lbs Wingspan: 6'9" Age: 23

Offense John Tonje enters the draft as one of the more polished off-ball shooters in the class. After an injury-halted stop at Missouri, Tonje exploded in his fifth year at Wisconsin, averaging nearly 20 points per game and emerging as the Big Ten’s premier movement shooter. His 38.8% clip from three comes on strong volume and with impressive versatility, where he’s shown consistency on spot-ups, relocations, handoffs, and even limited off-the-dribble attempts. He doesn’t possess elite release speed, but his high-arcing shot and fluid mechanics make it extremely projectable. He excels at preparing his feet before the catch and creating separation with smart relocation. Tonje’s primary NBA pathway is as a floor-spacing off-ball wing, with enough gravity and shooting credibility to stress defenses. His constant motion and ability to navigate through screens or handoffs will fit seamlessly into NBA offenses that prioritize pace and spacing. While not explosive, Tonje is a savvy and physical closeout attacker. He leverages strength, head fakes, jab steps, and footwork to get into the paint, especially off second-side actions. His success doesn’t come from burst, instead it comes from deliberate, tough-minded drives where he absorbs contact and forces defensive rotations. His craft allows him to draw fouls at a high rate (over 90% FT on 9 attempts/game), and he projects as a capable foul-drawer even against NBA defenders. However, his finishing is below the rim, and he lacks a left hand, limiting his versatility at the cup. His shot selection can also drift into hero-ball mode, with rushed midrange jumpers and contested pull-ups when the drive doesn’t materialize. As a passer, Tonje isn’t a playmaker, but he’s shown flashes of connective instincts. He’ll hit kick-outs when defenses collapse and can make simple reads out of two-man actions. However, his assist-to-turnover ratio remained neutral throughout college, showing some limitations when asked to create. At the NBA level, he’ll need to embrace a secondary or tertiary usage role and scale down his shot diet, focusing on being a quick decision-maker rather than an initiator. Defense Tonje’s defensive projection is where most of his NBA concerns lie. Despite a strong frame and nearly 6’9” wingspan, his limited lateral quickness and slow processing speed cap his upside on this end. He fights hard and plays with effort, but he’s heavy-footed when defending in space and struggles to contain quicker guards. His closeouts are technically sound in terms of footwork, where he emphasizes good angles and balance, but often arrive late due to reaction lag. He can contest using strength and positioning, but lacks verticality and pop to recover or alter shots. In pick-and-roll defense, Tonje does a respectable job of navigating screens, often diving between ball-handlers and bigs. Yet his lack of burst and hip flexibility make it difficult to recover when beaten or switch effectively against jittery guards. He has shown toughness and understanding of coverages, but opponents will target him in isolation or in handoff actions until he proves he can survive laterally. As a closeout defender, Tonje is vulnerable to hard drives. He doesn’t have the quickness to redirect mid-closeout and often gives up the baseline. His strength lets him wall off less physical wings, and he’s capable of holding his own when he’s able to square up. However, he’s prone to overcommitting or slipping due to overcorrection in foot placement. The most scalable element of his defense is how he handles off-ball actions. He fights through screens, understands rotations, and communicates decently. While his defensive ceiling is modest, his size and strength give him a shot at defending NBA wings in bench units, especially if he's paired with more dynamic perimeter defenders. Looking Ahead John Tonje’s NBA fit is clear: he’s a powerful, movement-based wing shooter who can attack closeouts and bring toughness. His compact frame, high motor, and shooting gravity make him a logical candidate for an off-ball specialist role, reminiscent of someone like Sterling Brown. While the lack of speed, passing feel, and defensive agility limits his upside, his ability to consistently hit threes and survive in physical matchups gives him a chance to carve out a role. He’s unlikely to be drafted, but Tonje is a strong candidate for a two-way contract and Summer League opportunity. If he can prove he’s a reliable shooter who doesn’t hurt you defensively, he could make a roster as a low-maintenance plug-and-play wing. His margin for error is slim, but NBA teams value wings who can shoot, cut, and compete, especially when they don’t need the ball to be effective. Tonje will need to continue improving his processing speed on both ends, grow into a more reliable team defender, and limit his off-the-dribble shot diet. If he can do those things, his shooting and strength may be enough to stick.