In a recent podcast appearance, former Sacramento Kings player Willie Cauley-Stein opened up on what he regrets most from his time in the NBA.
Willie Cauley-Stein lived the dream for seven years, playing for multiple NBA teams. Having been picked 6th overall in the 2015 draft, his career didn’t exactly go as expected, but it was still life-changing.
During his time in the league, Cauley-Stein made $25.8 million in salary alone. The 32-year-old may have not lasted in the league for too long, but that is enough money for anyone to live comfortably.
As sports stars have revealed time and again, though, the money can run out pretty fast thanks to the lifestyle. And WCS recently revealed his own issues on that front, discussing what he regrets most.
Willie Cauley-Stein regrets not networking enough to set himself up for life after the NBA
Most players picked high in the NBA draft are guaranteed to make more than $10 million, at least. Most of the time, it’s a lot more than that. As such, there are many people working with these stars off the court to maximise their wealth.
NBA stars are known to invest majorly in businesses, among other things. As such, they need to have the interest and the acumen to do well. As per Cauley-Stein, he never did what he could have in that sense.
“I think being a politician. When we talk about the business of basketball, I was a hooper, I wasn’t a businessman,” Cauley-Stein said. “And I think that’s the thing that I regret most: not staying at them little parties.
“Yeah, talking to the people, because I needed those relationships. Those are the things that you miss too, cultivating those relationships, to set yourself up and your family up after it’s gone, because I took that for granted.
“I’m (still) in my prime, 32, should still be playing. My house is foreclosed on, living month to month. So that s*** matters.”
It’s important for NBA players to be able to figure out their futures from the day get into the league. With more vets like Cauley-Stein speaking on their mistakes, the current and future generations know what not to do.
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