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:
- College: Kansas (1985-1989)
- 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.
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 | 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).
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Belgium
After college, Newton played basketball professionally in Belgium.
COLLEGE
Newton, a 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.
Kansas’ official career-statistics records credit Newton with action in 30 games in 1984-85 (one start), totaling 273 minutes (9.1 minutes per game) and 95 points (3.2 per game) while shooting 36-for-65 from the field (55.4%), going 23-for-37 on three-pointers (62.2%), and recording 48 rebounds (1.6 per game), 11 assists, 22 turnovers, 6 blocks, and 5 steals.
After not appearing in the 1985-86 season in Kansas’ official career-stat line, Newton returned in 1986-87 and played 32 games (two starts) for a Jayhawks team that went 25–11, producing 116 points (3.6 per game) in 325 minutes (10.2 per game) on 41-for-105 shooting (39.0%), including 6-for-17 from three (35.3%) and 28-for-37 at the line (75.7%), while adding 63 rebounds (2.0 per game), 17 assists, 26 turnovers, 9 blocks, and 7 steals.
Newton’s role expanded in 1987-88 as Kansas went 27–11 and won the NCAA title, with Newton playing 35 games and making 27 starts while averaging 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Over 805 minutes (23.0 per game), he scored 405 points on 166-for-299 shooting (55.5%), went 29-for-64 from three (45.3%), and made 44-of-78 free throws (56.4%), while adding 175 rebounds, 60 assists, 67 turnovers, 13 blocks, and 20 steals.
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.
In that 1988-89 season, Kansas went 19–12, and the program’s official career-statistics records list Newton with 31 games (30 starts), 923 total minutes (29.8 per game), and 550 points (17.7 per game) while shooting 199-for-423 from the field (47.0%), 65-for-143 on three-pointers (45.4%), and 87-for-114 at the line (76.3%). Across those 31 games, he recorded 157 rebounds (5.1 per game), 54 assists, 70 turnovers, 11 blocks, and 36 steals, and Kansas’ roster bio also credits him as the program’s 1989 Kansas MVP while noting his selection to the 1988 NCAA Final Four all-tournament team.
Across Newton’s Kansas career, the Jayhawks’ official all-players statistics list him with 128 games and 60 starts, 2,326 minutes (18.2 per game), 1,166 points (9.1 per game), 443 rebounds (3.4 per game), 142 assists, 185 turnovers, 39 blocks, and 68 steals, while shooting 442-for-892 from the field (49.6%), 100-for-224 from three (44.6%), and 182-for-256 at the free-throw line (71.1%).
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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