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HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 12: Tristen Newton #00 of the Houston Rockets brings the ball up court against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at Toyota Center. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Former UConn men's basketball star Tristen Newton was waived by the Houston Rockets on Wednesday despite a standout 2025-26 season in the G League.
Newton signed a two-way contract with the Rockets in January 2026 and spent most of his time with the franchise's G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he averaged 25.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists to earn first-team All-G League honors. He came off the bench for Houston's final NBA regular-season game, scoring 12 points and grabbing three rebounds in 12 minutes.
He earned $321,714 in his one season with Houston, about a quarter of the 2025-26 rookie minimum salary. Houston released Newton to make room for rookie center Rafael Castro, who played at Providence and George Washington, went unselected in this year's NBA Draft and was signed to a two-way contract Thursday.
Newton, a 6-foot-5 point guard, was drafted No. 49 overall by the Indiana Pacers, one of four members of UConn's 2024 national championship squad selected in the 2024 NBA Draft, but the Indianapolis organization waived him in January 2025. The Minnesota Timberwolves claimed the former Husky days later, temporarily reuniting Newton with his cousin, Vikings Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones, in Minneapolis before the point guard was reassigned to the G League.
Newton rose onto Division I radars after leading the state of Texas at over 37 points per game in high school, and began his collegiate career at East Carolina, earning second-team All-AAC honors as a junior. He heard from more than 30 schools after entering the transfer portal, but Newton ultimately clicked as the missing piece for Dan Hurley's UConn squad, earning the starting point guard role and leading the Huskies to the 2023 national championship.
In his final season of collegiate eligibility, Newton's stats took a significant leap, averaging over 15 points along with 6.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists to earn consensus First-Team All-America honors. Newton was also recognized as the 2024 Final Four Most Outstanding Player as he led the Huskies on a historically dominant tear through March Madness.
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