Ex-Warriors, Kings participant Cauley-Stein displays on previous drug dependancy initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
Former Warriors and Kings heart Willie Cauley-Stein has revealed the explanation behind his NBA “private go away” in 2021 and subsequent league exit in 2022.
Talking to The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker, the 31-year-old mirrored on his journey from a critical drug dependancy to discovering happiness throughout his street to restoration.
And regardless of the battle, he’s fortunate to share his story.
“I might simply be lifeless,” Cauley-Stein informed Tucker.
Cauley-Stein admitted he started abusing substances in the summertime of 2019 after three of his associates had been shot – one in every of which was killed – in Sacramento.
On the time, he had simply signed a close to league-minimum take care of Golden State after not receiving a brand new deal from the Kings following a formidable finish to his rookie contract.
He resorted to what he thought had been bootleg Percocet tablets to manage.
“That sort of began a spiral of psychological well being,” Cauley-Stein informed Tucker. “Attempting to take care of that and hoop on the identical time — for a brand new crew, on a foul deal, after which my spouse bought pregnant — it was simply too many bizarre issues and massive modifications, and I bought on the ache tablets attempting to simply run away from actuality.”
Cauley-Stein’s concern worsened after studying about his grandmother’s bone most cancers prognosis.
And on Dec. 1, 2021, lower than per week after his grandmother’s passing, the middle checked into rehab.
By then, Cauley-Stein was with the Dallas Mavericks, the place he appeared in a mere 18 video games, averaging profession lows in factors (1.9), rebounds (2.1) and minutes performed (9.8) whereas capturing a career-low 46% from the ground.
The No. 6 total decide of the 2015 NBA Draft was taking tablets throughout apply to keep away from a withdrawal. However little did he know that the tablets he was consuming had been laced with fentanyl, a substance 50 instances stronger than heroin and linked to numerous overdose deaths within the nation.
“I didn’t know till I turned myself in,” Cauley-Stein informed Tucker. “I checked out my spouse and mentioned, ‘Oh, my God’ as a result of I hear tales on a regular basis about youngsters going to a celebration, by no means taking a drug earlier than, deciding to pop a Percocet, and it finally ends up being fentanyl, they usually die.
“From one tablet. Dude, I used to be taking a whole bunch of them, for months and years. It might’ve so simply been me.”
Cauley-Stein has turned the web page since and managed to play 13 video games with the Houston Rockets’ G League affiliate throughout the 2022-23 season.
Now, he hopes he could make an NBA return and keep sturdy and clear for his spouse and youngsters.
“I needed to get proper for them,” Cauley-Stein informed Tucker. “It’s humorous, I’m solely 30, however my youngsters don’t actually know me as this basketball star.
“What’s loopy, although, is I’m doing the perfect I’ve finished in like 10 years. That is the perfect I’ve felt, most likely, since I left Kentucky. And there’s nonetheless lots of recreation on this physique. I’m rested, I’m recent. I’m prepared.”
Obtain and observe the Dubs Speak Podcast