The Wisconsin Badgers saw their first player be drafted into the NBA since 2022 this offseason when star guard John Tonje was selected No. 53 overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2025 NBA Draft.
He followed
Johnny Davis, who was taken by the Washington Wizards with the No. 10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, as the latest Badgers to be drafted into the NBA.
Tonje, a 6’4, 218-pound guard, played only two games with the Jazz’s summer league team after being drafted, as he was hampered by a right ankle injury. Now, to start the season, he has joined the Salt Lake City Stars, Utah’s G-League team.
And he’s not the only one.
Former Badgers center Steven Crowl earned an Exhibit 10 contract with the Jazz after going undrafted, and he has also made it to the Stars opening day roster. And, interestingly enough, the two former Badgers were joined by a third rookie, as guard Max Klesmit also earned a training camp invite with the Stars and has now officially made the opening day roster.
Klesmit had been recovering from offseason ankle surgery and has now found his spot in the G-League with some familiar faces.
The Stars had their first G-League game on Tuesday, and Tonje was a starter, scoring 15 points and grabbing four rebounds in 26 minutes of action as they beat the Santa Cruz Warriors 121-101. Tonje was 5/10 from the field and 2/6 from three.
Neither Klesmit or Crowl played in the game, being two of four DNPs for the Stars, who played nine players on the night.
But, all three have found their next home and continue a recent pipeline of Badgers to the Jazz following Micah Potter.
