Willie Cauley‑Stein, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and a defensive stalwart during Kentucky’s John Calipari era, announced that he will retire from competitive basketball after the 2026 edition of The Basketball Tournament.
The former NBA player, whose last regular‑season appearance came on March 2, 2022, is shifting his energy toward golf, a passion he has cultivated for years through his "Almost Members Golf" YouTube channel.
A New Fairway for a Kentucky Legend
Cauley‑Stein helped the UK alumni squad La Familia advance to the TBT quarterfinals and says the $2 million prize is a strong motivator, even if his teammates are as driven by the cash as by the chance to win.
He has named Dallas National Golf Club in Texas, Pelican Hill and Monarch Beach in California, and Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky among his favorite courses, and he plans to launch a tournament series that gives amateurs a chance to play on exclusive tracks.
Reflecting on a seven‑year NBA career that included an All‑Rookie second‑team selection and a defensive player of the year award, he says the discipline and competitive fire from basketball still fuel his golf ambitions.
Cauley‑Stein hopes to settle permanently in Lexington by November, a move that would let him balance his golf projects with community outreach and give fans a front‑row seat to his next chapter.