What Happened to Willie Cauley-Stein?
Willie Cauley-Stein is an American professional basketball player who played seven seasons in the NBA before transitioning to overseas leagues and the G-League. In July 2026, he announced his retirement from professional basketball, with his final competitive games being in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) 2026, and is now focusing on golf content creation and his golf clothing brand.
Quick Answer
Willie Cauley-Stein officially retired from professional basketball in July 2026, concluding his career with a final appearance in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) 2026. After stints in the NBA with teams like the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Philadelphia 76ers, as well as playing in Italy and China, Cauley-Stein is now dedicating his time to his golf clothing brand, Amor De Golf, and creating golf-related content.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in Spearville, Kansas
Willie Durmond Cauley Jr., later known as Willie Cauley-Stein, was born in Spearville, Kansas.
Enrolls at University of Kentucky
Cauley-Stein began his collegiate basketball career with the Kentucky Wildcats, where he would play for three seasons.
Named Consensus First-Team All-American
In his junior year at Kentucky, Cauley-Stein received numerous accolades, including being named a Consensus First-Team All-American and NABC Defensive Player of the Year.
Drafted 6th Overall by Sacramento Kings
Willie Cauley-Stein was selected by the Sacramento Kings as the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Following his debut season, Cauley-Stein was recognized for his performance by being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Signs with Golden State Warriors
After four seasons with the Kings, Cauley-Stein signed with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent.
Traded to Dallas Mavericks
Cauley-Stein was traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Dallas Mavericks.
Signs 10-day contract with Philadelphia 76ers
After being waived by the Mavericks, Cauley-Stein signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, appearing in two games.
Signs with Pallacanestro Varese in Italy
Cauley-Stein began his first overseas professional basketball experience by signing with the Italian team Pallacanestro Varese.
Sets FIBA Europe Cup Rebounding Record
While playing for Varese, Cauley-Stein recorded 20 rebounds in a game, setting a new FIBA Europe Cup record for most rebounds by a single player.
Signs with Nanjing Monkey Kings in China
Cauley-Stein continued his international career by signing with the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
Announces TBT 2026 as 'Last Dance'
Willie Cauley-Stein publicly announced that The Basketball Tournament (TBT) 2026 would mark his final competitive basketball appearances before retirement.
Confirms Retirement and Post-Basketball Plans
Cauley-Stein confirmed his retirement from basketball, citing the difficulty of maintaining professional shape, and revealed plans to focus on his golf clothing brand, Amor De Golf, and golf content creation.
Currently Competing in TBT 2026
As of today, Willie Cauley-Stein is actively participating in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) 2026 with the Kentucky alumni team, 'La Familia,' in what he has termed his final basketball competition.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Willie Cauley-Stein, born on August 18, 1993, rose to prominence during his college basketball career at the University of Kentucky from 2012 to 2015. A highly touted defensive player, he earned consensus First-Team All-American honors and was named NABC Defensive Player of the Year in his junior season (2015). His impressive collegiate performance led to him being selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings.
Cauley-Stein spent his first four NBA seasons with the Kings, where he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2016. His best statistical seasons came with Sacramento, averaging 12.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in 2017-18, and 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds in 2018-19. Following his time with the Kings, he had stints with the Golden State Warriors (2019-2020), Dallas Mavericks (2020-2022), and a brief two-game appearance with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022. His NBA career saw him average 8.7 points and 5.9 rebounds over 422 regular-season games.
After his NBA journey, Cauley-Stein moved to the G-League, playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during the 2022-2023 season. He then ventured overseas, signing with Pallacanestro Varese in Italy in July 2023, where he notably set a new FIBA Europe Cup record with 20 rebounds in a single game in October 2023. His international career continued with a brief period with Indios de Mayagüez in Puerto Rico in early 2024, before signing with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) in October 2024.
As of July 2026, Willie Cauley-Stein has announced his retirement from professional basketball. He is participating in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) 2026 with the Kentucky alumni team, 'La Familia,' which he stated would be his 'last dance' in competitive basketball. Cauley-Stein expressed that the physical demands of staying in shape for professional play had become too challenging. Post-retirement, he is channeling his competitive spirit into golf, having launched a golf clothing brand called 'Amor De Golf' and creating golf-related content. He also plans to move his family to Lexington, Kentucky, as a long-term resident.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Willie Cauley-Stein made different choices?