Robert Rose
July 23, 2020
Milt Newton
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 25/08/65
- Place of Birth: St Thomas (Virgin Islands)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 195
- Weight (KG): 87
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Kansas
- NBL DEBUT: 4/04/92
- AGE AT DEBUT: 26
- LAST NBL GAME: 24/05/92
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 26
- NBL History: South East Melbourne 1992
- Championships: 1
- South East Melbourne (1992)
BIO: Milt Newton was born in St Thomas in the Virgin Islands (USA).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Milt Newton made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Magic at 26 years of age. He scored 17 points in his first game.
Milt Newton joined the South East Melbourne Magic for their inaugural NBL campaign in 1992, recruited as the team’s import forward alongside a veteran-laden roster that featured Bruce Bolden, Tony Ronaldson, Darren Lucas, Scott Ninnis, and Darren Perry. Under head coach Brian Goorjian, Newton was expected to bring scoring and versatility to the forward position, helping bridge the merger between the former Eastside Spectres and South Melbourne Saints into a championship-calibre unit.
Across his seven-game stint, Newton produced solid numbers—averaging 15.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He contributed to the Magic’s strong 6–1 start, including several games where his rebounding and mid-range shooting added offensive balance to the squad. However, despite the team’s early success, Goorjian sought more dynamic guard play and offensive creation on the perimeter, particularly in late-game situations and against high-octane backcourts like Melbourne’s Gaze–Copeland duo.
As a result, Newton was released after Round 7 and replaced by former LA Clippers guard Robert Rose, who would go on to become an NBL Hall of Famer. The decision, while controversial at the time, proved to be a turning point in the Magic’s season. Rose brought immediate playmaking, leadership, and two-way intensity, helping transform the Magic into an elite contender. From that point forward, South East Melbourne would lose just three more games all season, finish 20–4, and go on to win the NBL championship in their debut year.
Milt Newton played one season in the NBL. He averaged 15.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 7 NBL games.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 27 | South East Melbourne | 20-4 (1) | 7 | 247.0 | 109 | 57 | 23 | 12 | 45 | 11 | 5 | 32 | 14 | 41 | 118 | 35% | 10 | 35 | 29% | 17 | 29 | 59% | 41% | 39% | 22 | Totals | 7 | 247 | 109 | 57 | 23 | 12 | 45 | 11 | 5 | 32 | 14 | 41 | 118 | 34.7% | 10 | 35 | 28.6% | 17 | 29 | 58.6% | 42% | 39% | 22 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 27 | South East Melbourne | 20-4 (1) | 7 | 35.3 | 15.6 | 8.1 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 16.9 | 35% | 1.4 | 5.0 | 29% | 2.4 | 4.1 | 59% | 41% | 39% | 22 | Total | 7 | 35.3 | 15.6 | 8.1 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 2.0 | 5.9 | 16.9 | 34.7% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 28.6% | 1.4 | 5.0 | 58.6% | 42% | 39% | 22 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 22 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Newton was co-captain of the U.S. Virgin Islands entry in the 1987 Pan American Games.
NBA EXPERIENCE
Newton played in the NBAs developmental leagues with the Grand Rapids Hoops (1989–1990) and the Rockford Lightning (1990).
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 84% | 90% | 94% | 88% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 41 | 118 | 34.7% | 10 | 35 | 28.6% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 27 | South East Melbourne | 20-4 (1) | 7 | 247.0 | 109 | 57 | 23 | 12 | 45 | 11 | 5 | 32 | 14 | 41 | 118 | 35% | 10 | 35 | 29% | 17 | 29 | 59% | 41% | 39% | 22 | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Belgium
After college, Newton played basketball professionally in Belgium.
COLLEGE
Newton, a 6'5" forward, was recruited by coach Larry Brown to the University of Kansas, where he played from 1985 to 1989. During this time, he was a starting forward on Kansas' 1988 national championship team and joined teammate and Final Four Most Outstanding Player Danny Manning on the all tournament team.
In the tournament final against Oklahoma, Newton scored 15 points on nearly perfect shooting, making all six of his field goal attempts (including both 3-point attempts), his only miss coming at the free-throw line. He also contributed numerous plays that, while they did not show up in the box score, contributed mightily to the Jayhawks' victory.
As a senior in 1988–89, Newton was the Jayhawks' captain on Roy Williams' first team. He averaged 17.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game and was named second team All-Big Eight Conference.
AWARDS
- CBA All-Rookie Second Team (1990) NCAA champion (1988) Second-team All-Big Eight (1989)
LIFE AFTER BASKETBALL
Following his playing days, Newton turned to the business side of basketball. After a few years working as a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers and as the Assistant Director of USA Basketball, Newton joined the NBA front office and was instrumental in launching the NBA Development League. He joined the Washington Wizards as their Vice President of player personnel in 2003. In September 2013, he was hired by the Minnesota Timberwolves as their general manager. Newton was let go by the team in May 2016.He was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks for the role of Assistant General Manager in 2017.
Related
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