Willie Cauley-Stein, a former Kentucky basketball star, announced that he will retire from competitive basketball after the 2026 edition of The Basketball Tournament.
The 6-foot-10 center helped the UK alumni team La Familia reach the quarterfinals, delivering a double-double in a 34-minute performance against The Ville that showcased his enduring versatility.
A new fairway ahead
In a recent interview, Cauley-Stein reflected on a career that spanned college stardom under John Calipari, professional stints in the NBA and overseas, and the camaraderie that defined his time with teammates such as Jon Hood.
Now he is turning his attention to golf, launching a YouTube channel called "Almost Members Golf" and planning a series of tournaments aimed at making the sport more accessible to a broader audience.
He has already played at courses from Dallas to Newport Beach, and he intends to make Lexington his permanent home, where he hopes to combine his basketball legacy with his new golf ambitions.
Beyond personal goals, Cauley-Stein is eyeing the $2 million prize pool that awaits the TBT champions, a reward that would cap a remarkable transition from the hardwood to the fairway.