In baseball, there are some players that are referred to as being a Quadruple-A guy. They seem to be too good for the minor leagues, but they also always seem to always struggle in the major leagues.
There isn’t really a term for that type of player in basketball, but Tristen Newton isexcelling in the G League for the Iowa Wolves. However, he has barely gotten an opportunity at the NBA level.
Tristen Newton has been one of the most productive G League players
The Iowa Wolves are off to a 5-2 start in early G League action. While they’ve received excellent performances from guys such as Alize Johnson, Rocco Zikarsky, and Zyon Pullin, it has been Newton that has been the team’s best overall player.
Early on, the 24-year-old guard is tied for fourth in the G League in scoring (27.0), fourth in assists (9.3), and 10th in steals (2.6). He has helped spearhead a Wolves team that is currently leading the G League in averaging 135.1 points per contest.
Listed at 6-foot-5, Newton is more of a combo guard. But with the Minnesota Timberwolves seemingly having a point guard problem to begin the year (and one that was also noticed before the season began), fans can’t help but wonder if perhaps Newton would be able to provide any value for the NBA club.
Newton was released from two-way deal in offseason
A two-time national champion playing collegiately at UConn, Newton was selected in the second round (49th overall) by the Pacers. Indiana waived him in January of 2025, before he was subsequently added off waivers by Minnesota. Last season, he played just five games for the Pacers and three for the Timberwolves, totaling only 16 minutes.
The Timberwolves re-added Newton on a two-way contract in the offseason, but he was later waived from that deal in order to free up a two-way slot for Johnny Juzang. The other two two-way players for Minnesota are Rocco Zikarsky and Enrique Freeman.
Newton didn’t have a great preseason for the Timberwolves, while Juzang proved to be a knockdown shooter. In summer league, though, Newton performed at a high level, including making 47.6% of his 3-point tries.
Do I expect Newton to make an impact at some point this season in the NBA? Probably not. He is someone to keep an eye on though as a player showcasing his skills while looking to find his way back into the NBA.