Tristen Newton

Tristen Newton
Newton at the White House in 2023
Free agent
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
Personal information
Born (2001-04-26) April 26, 2001
Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolBurges (El Paso, Texas)
College
NBA draft2024: 2nd round, 49th overall pick
Drafted byIndiana Pacers
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–2025Indiana Pacers
2024–2025→Indiana Mad Ants
2025Minnesota Timberwolves
2025→Iowa Wolves
2025–2026Iowa Wolves
2026Houston Rockets
2026→Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference 

Tristen Jamal Newton (born April 26, 2001) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the East Carolina Pirates and with the UConn Huskies where he won both the 2023 and 2024 national championships. Newton was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 49th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. He has also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

High school career

Newton played at Burges High School in El Paso, Texas, where his team routinely traveled great distances to play top teams in the large metro areas of Texas. Newton scored 3,266 points in high school and led the state in scoring as a senior at 37.2 points per game.[1]

College career

Newton found success at East Carolina, entering the starting lineup as a freshman and averaging 11 points and 3.7 assists per game. He set the Pirates' program record for assists in a season by a freshman.[2] He improved for his next two seasons, culminating in a junior season where he averaged 17.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5 assists per game. He was named to the All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) second team at the close of the season.[3]

Following the dismissal of his coach Joe Dooley after the 2021–22 season, Newton decided to transfer from East Carolina.[4] He heard from over 30 schools after putting his name in the NCAA transfer portal, ultimately choosing the University of Connecticut (UConn), where coach Dan Hurley saw his playmaking as a missing piece for his Big East Conference team. Newton earned the starting point guard role and became the second player in program history to record two triple-doubles, joining Shabazz Napier. At the close of the season, Newton helped lead the Huskies to the sixth Final Four in school history and later, with a double-double, to UConn's fifth NCAA championship in 2023.[5]

Newton returned to the program for the 2023–24 season after initially declaring for the 2023 NBA draft.[6] During a game against Manhattan, Newton notched his third triple-double of his career with the Huskies, becoming the first player in program history to do so.[7] He notched his fourth triple-double of his career against Villanova, becoming the first power conference player to have four or more triple-doubles since Shaquille O'Neal recorded six.[8] In the NCAA tournament, he led the Huskies to back-to-back championships, was named the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) of the tournament, and became a member of the Huskies of Honor.[9]

Professional career

Indiana Pacers / Mad Ants (2024–2025)

On June 27, 2024, Newton was selected with the 49th overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2024 NBA draft[10] and on July 27, he signed a two-way contract with them.[11] However, On January 1, 2025, he was waived by the Pacers.[12]

Minnesota Timberwolves / Iowa Wolves (2025–2026)

On January 3, 2025, Newton was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Timberwolves, retaining his two-way contract status.[13] In three appearances for Minnesota, Newton averaged no points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.3 assists. On October 18, Newton was waived by Minnesota after losing the final roster battle to Johnny Juzang.[14] On November 6, 2025, Newton was named to the Iowa Wolves opening night roster.[15]

Houston Rockets / Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2026)

On January 3, 2026, Newton signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets, splitting time with their NBA G League affiliate the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.[16]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2024–25 Indiana 501.6.167.0001.000.0.2.0.0.6
Minnesota 302.7.000––1.3.3.3.0.0
2025–26 Houston 1012.0.444.440.6673.0.01.0.012.0
Career 903.1.294.250.750.8.2.2.01.7

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 East Carolina 311929.9.390.324.8024.53.71.2.311.0
2020–21 East Carolina 171631.5.348.262.8954.34.21.2.38.7
2021–22 East Carolina 303034.8.435.333.8794.85.01.4.317.7
2022–23 UConn 393828.8.374.366.8164.54.71.1.310.1
2023–24 UConn 404033.2.415.321.8086.66.2.9.315.1
Career 15714331.6.402.327.8315.14.91.2.312.8

Personal life

Newton's older brother, Jawaun, played college basketball for Evansville and Southern Illinois.[17] He is a cousin of football players Aaron and Alvin Jones.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Arruda, Joe (January 28, 2023). "Confidence is key for UConn point guard Tristen Newton and Dan Hurley thinks he's unlocked it". Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ "ECU hoops finishes 11th; Godwin passes LeClair". Daily Reflector. March 8, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Newton Named To All-AAC Second Team". East Carolina Pirates. March 9, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Borzello, Jeff (April 13, 2022). "East Carolina transfer, second-team All-AAC guard Tristen Newton commits to UConn". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ Martinez, Quinton (April 1, 2023). "'Ready for a stage like this': After move to UConn, Burges' Newton plays in Final Four". El Paso Times. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ Borzello, Jeff (May 31, 2023). "Newton opts out of NBA draft, returns to UConn". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  7. ↑ Borges, David (November 24, 2023). "UConn men's basketball rolls to win as Tristen Newton sets record with third triple-double as Husky". CTInsider.com. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  8. ↑ Dayton, Kels (February 29, 2024). "Tristen Newton's name now next to Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson on NCAA's all-time triple double list". Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  9. ↑ Dayton, Kels (April 9, 2024). "Tristen Newton inducted into Huskies of Honor upon arrival back at Gampel with champion UConn men". Courant.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Frank, Evan (June 27, 2024). "'One of the best transfers': NBA Draft grades for new Pacers G Tristen Newton at No. 49". IndyStar.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Indiana Pacers Sign Jackson and Newton to Two-Way Contracts". NBA.com. July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Pacers Waive Tristen Newton". NBA.com. January 1, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Timberwolves Awarded Tristen Newton Off Waivers". NBA.com. January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Timberwolves Waive Four Players". NBA. October 18, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Iowa Wolves Announce Opening Night Roster". gleague.nba.com. November 6, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  16. ↑ DuBose, Ben. "Two-way roster moves: Rockets sign Tristen Newton, waive Tyler Smith". Rockets Wire. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Jawaun Newton". Iowa State Cyclones. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  18. ↑ Kuhagen, Christopher (April 4, 2024). "Packers running back Aaron Jones was a proud cousin and one of the UConn men's basketball team's biggest supporters during its national championship run". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
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