Willie Cauley-Stein advises new Kentucky players to "enjoy their time" at the Wildcats
Former Kentucky star Willie Cauley-Stein returned to Lexington this month for The Basketball Tournament. He's on the roster for La Familia, a team of UK alums, to compete in TBT, which starts from July 19.
Cauley-Stein made a stop in Lexington and was training for the tournament at the Joe Craft Center. When asked what suggestion he would give to newcomers on how to navigate Kentucky, Stein said to enjoy their time there while it lasts.
“Just enjoy it. There’s no place like it," Cauley-Stein told a reporter. "I've seen guys that kind of revert from the love that's around or revert from all the attention that you gave.
"But I will tell you this when you leave here, it is not the same, so gotta enjoy, relish that, all these people wanna be around you, talk to you, touch you, to share that energy, cause it's definitely not the same when you leave."
Willie Cauley-Stein played for three years with the Wildcats from 2015 to 2018. He then declared for the NBA draft and was the sixth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings.
After playing for several NBA teams like Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers, he joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of NBA G Lague in 2022. He last played in the Italian Lega Basket Serie A for Openjobmetis Varese.
Willie Cauley-Stein on his bond with the Kentucky fan base
Willie Cauley-Stein has expressed his excitement about returning to the place where he started.
He will join former Kentucky stars James Young, Eric Bledsoe, Andrew Harrison and Daniel Orton to suit up for the Wildcats' La Familia in The Basketball Tournament. Their first game is against the 305 Ballers in the first round on July 19.
"Man, I think I need that energy right now," Cauley-Stein shared his thoughts on the return. "It’s been a rough few years, so coming back and soaking up all that love out there ... I’m excited to feel that and I think it’ll be refreshing.
"There’s no place like that, like that fan base,” Cauley-Stein added. "Just seeing the excitement, seeing how much they love, that sport for one, but just athletics period. ... Just getting back in that community is what I’m really excited about."
Willie Cauley-Stein averaged 8.13 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game for the Wildcats during his three-season stay. Under John Calipari, Cauley-Stein honed his skills, guiding the team to the 2014 national championship game and the 2015 Final Four.