Recent Dallas Mavericks Player Reveals He Went To Rehab For Addiction

Kyle Tucker of The Athletic did a profile on former NBA player Willie Cauley-Stein.

Oct 6, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Willie Cauley-Stein (33) warms up before the game against the Utah Jazz at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Willie Cauley-Stein most recently played in the NBA during the during the 2021-22 season when he was a member of the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks.

That year, he averaged 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds per contest while shooting 45.7% from the field in 20 games.

Recently, Kyle Tucker of The Athletic did a fantastic profile on the former Kentucky star.

Cauley-Stein revealed that he entered a rehab facility for drug addiction during that season.

Via Tucker's article in The Athletic: "A last gasp after he stepped away from the Dallas Mavericks in late November 2021 — the team cited “personal reasons” — and then it waived him in January. What almost nobody knew at the time, and what he never previously has discussed publicly, is that Cauley-Stein was in the middle of a 65-day stay at an inpatient rehabilitation center for substance abuse."

Willie Cauley-Stein has never told this story before.

About losing people he loved, then losing himself in the pills that numbed his pain.

About dodging death, doing rehab and coming home — to Kentucky — to let love heal him. https://t.co/avKAJoxDkh

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) August 29, 2024

The entire profile is very insightful and shares a lot of details about his recovery.

Via Tucker: "Willie Cauley-Stein’s friend was killed. The grandmother who raised him was dying.

What he thought was Percocet offered an escape. Turned out to be fentanyl.

He somehow survived long enough to get help. Instantly, he felt his late grandma’s embrace."

Willie Cauley-Stein’s friend was killed. The grandmother who raised him was dying.

What he thought was Percocet offered an escape. Turned out to be fentanyl.

He somehow survived long enough to get help. Instantly, he felt his late grandma’s embrace.

✍🏻 https://t.co/avKAJoyb9P pic.twitter.com/vKiHEuRHDy

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) August 29, 2024

Cauley-Stein was the sixth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft after three seasons of college basketball with the Wildcats.

He played seven seasons for the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks.

The longest tenure of his NBA career came with the Kings (four seasons).

Willie Cauley-Stein completed a 65-day rehab stay in 2022 for what he thought was a bootleg Percocet addiction, later finding out he was buying fake pills laced with Fentanyl:

“I could easily be dead… I hear stories all the time about kids going to a party, never taking a drug… pic.twitter.com/FKYheSdbBx

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 29, 2024

His career averages are 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per contest while shooting 54.4% from the field in 422 games.

He also appeared in six NBA playoff games (with the Mavs in 2021).

Oct 31, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Willie Cauley-Stein (33) holds his daughter Kendrixx before the game against the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports