Years ago when the Sacramento Kings were in search of a defensive starting center, Willie Cauley-Stein seemed like the perfect option. Selected with the sixth pick in the 2015 draft, the Kings touted Willie’s defensive prowess at Kentucky and hoped his offensive game would develop over time.
During his rookie season with the Kings, Willie had a promising season as he averaged around seven points, five rebounds, and a block per contest. He showed great flashes throughout the year of how good he could be on both ends of the court and gave the Kings confidence he could be a proficient starter in the upcoming years.