Houston Rockets: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history
By Simon Smith
9. Mike Newlin (SG) — No. 24 pick in 1971 NBA Draft
Career stats (with the Rockets): 604 GP, 14.0 PPG, 4.3 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 2.4 TOV, 46.1 FG%, 86.4 FT%
Mike Newlin was certainly a value pick considering where he was selected coming out of the University of Utah. Like many perimeter players of his era, his numbers with the Rockets are hard to compare with the current era due to the absence of the three-point line. It wasn’t until Newlin left the Rockets that the introduction of the three-point line took place.
Arriving in Houston the same season the Rockets moved the franchise from San Diego, Newlin was a staple of consistency throughout his eight seasons in H-Town. His best season for the Rockets came during 1975-76, his fifth in the league. Playing all 82 games, Newlin posted 18.6 points, 5.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.
In a profile of Newlin by Gregory Curtis of Texas Monthly in 1975, Curtis asked an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who was scouting the Rockets, to describe what he saw with Newlin’s game:
"“He still plays about like I remember him. A good shooter, very aggressive.”"
Despite performing at a solid level throughout his eight seasons with the Rockets, Newlin was somewhat unceremoniously sent away at the end of the 1978-79 season. The New Jersey Nets sent the Rockets a second round draft choice and an undisclosed amount of cash for Newlin’s services.
In his two seasons with the Nets, he posted career-highs in points per game. He then played one season with the Knicks before calling it a day at age 33.