The Boston Celtics just locked in a sharpshooting sensation, signing 24-year-old rookie John Tonje to a two-way contract on Sunday. This move brings back a familiar face who was briefly a free agent after his 10-day deal expired on Saturday. But Boston didn’t waste a second, snapping him up to bolster their depth with a player who’s already proven he can fill buckets at will.
Tonje was originally scooped up by the Celtics from the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline, traded for Chris Boucher and a second-round pick as a two-way talent. After the All-Star Break, the team cleverly converted his contract to a short-term 10-day stint to navigate roster requirements and drop back to 14 main spots. Now, with that chapter closed, Tonje is set to ride out the season splitting time between the big leagues and the G-League, ready to make an immediate impact.
With Tonje’s signing and Dalano Banton’s 10-day contract also wrapping up, the Celtics have two open roster spots—but no rush, as league rules give them until March 14 to fill them. That flexibility lets Boston focus on integrating this scoring machine without pressure.
Drafted 53rd overall by the Jazz in the 2025 NBA Draft, Tonje is no ordinary rookie. At 24, he’s a seasoned baller who grinded through an epic six-year college journey, culminating in an All-American season at Wisconsin. That’s over 10,000 hours of pure dedication, honing his skills into a deadly offensive weapon. He made his NBA debut in a dominant win over the Suns on Tuesday, and he’s already soaking up the Celtics’ winning culture.
“It’s been great,” Tonje shared with MassLive about his Boston experience. “Trying to learn on the fly. Learn everything I can. It’s been cool to be around the people in this program. A lot of high-character people, talent. I’m just really trying to make the most of it.”
Dominating in the G-League with the Salt Lake City Stars, Tonje dropped an impressive 18.0 points per game alongside 4.1 rebounds across 32 outings. This mega sniper’s scoring prowess is tailor-made for Boston’s high-octane attack, and he’ll continue developing with the Maine Celtics when not suiting up for the main squad.
“Overall improvement,” Tonje emphasized on his goals ahead. “Offensively and defensively. Find a way to impact winning is the main thing. However that might look. It’s different from game-to-game. Really just trying to impact winning.”
Tonje now rounds out Boston’s two-way trio alongside Max Shulga and Ron Harper Jr. With the two-way signing deadline looming on March 4, the Celtics moved fast to secure this 6-year college vet in a rookie’s frame—a player primed to contribute right now and help chase another banner.