Mike Newlin was a professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for ten seasons. He was born on January 2, 1949, in Seattle, Washington, and attended the University of Utah, where he played college basketball.
Newlin was selected by the Houston Rockets in the first round of the 1971 NBA draft. He played for the Rockets for six seasons, from 1971 to 1977, and was known for his scoring ability and his versatility on the court. He was a shooting guard who could also play small forward and point guard.
In his first season with the Rockets, Newlin averaged 11.3 points per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. He continued to improve over the next few seasons, and in the 1975-76 season, he had his best year statistically, averaging 22.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team that season and was also selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game.
After six seasons with the Rockets, Newlin was traded to the New Jersey Nets in 1977. He played for the Nets for two seasons, from 1977 to 1979, and then played for the Utah Jazz for two seasons, from 1979 to 1981. He finished his career with the San Antonio Spurs, playing one season with them in 1981-82.
Throughout his career, Newlin was known for his scoring ability, his versatility on the court, and his leadership skills. He was a team captain for several of the teams he played for and was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
After retiring from basketball, Newlin went on to have a successful career in business. He worked for several companies, including IBM and Merrill Lynch, and also served as the president of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.
In conclusion, Mike Newlin was a talented and versatile basketball player who had a successful career in the NBA. He played for several teams over the course of ten seasons and was known for his scoring ability, his versatility on the court, and his leadership skills. After retiring from basketball, he went on to have a successful career in business and continued to be involved in the basketball community as the president of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.
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