In the next installment of our BadgersWire Wisconsin basketball “where are they now” series, we take a look at where former UW sharpshooter Jon Leuer ended up in his pro career.
After an outstanding high school career at Orno High School in his hometown of Long Lake, Minnesota, Leuer came to Wisconsin in 2007 and played sparingly as a freshman. Each year at UW throughout his four year career as a Badger, Leuer improved in nearly every statistical category. The improvements culminated in a senior year where as the primary scoring option, the Minnesota native averaged 18.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and nearly two assists per game. Leuer and the Badgers made a Sweet 16 run in 2011 that ended with a loss to eventual national runner-up Butler.
Following his four-year Badger career, Leuer was selected as the 40th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the hometown Milwaukee Bucks. In a rookie season shortened by the NBA lockout, the 6-foot-10 forward played in 46 games for the Bucks before being traded to Cleveland for a short stint in 2013. Ultimately, Leuer found a home in Memphis where he played on three consecutive playoff teams from 2012-13 through the 2014-15 season. The former Badger did not find a massive role with the Grizzlies, but proved to be a rotational piece off the bench while never averaging more than 6.2 points per game in Memphis.
Following a solid 2015-16 year with the Phoenix Suns, Leuer enjoyed the best year of his career in 2016-17 after landing with the Detroit Pistons. That season, the former Badger sharpshooter averaged career-highs in points with 10.2 per game, minutes played with nearly 26 per game, and started a career-best 34 games out of the 75 he appeared in.
Then, the injury bug hit hard. In 2017-18 off the back of a career-best season, Leuer suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for the season after just eight game due to the need for surgery. Following the injury, Leuer was ultimately traded back to Milwaukee where he was subsequently dropped in the summer of 2019.
Recently, Leuer spoke with Wisconsin State Journal writer Jim Polzin and said he remained in limbo about whether or not he would fight for an NBA return given his past health issues. 