Painful News: this is a very wrong mistake that NBA did this guy after their…….

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Of all the players set to make their Central Kentucky and Rupp Arena returns this month with La Familia — a Kentucky basketball alumni team taking part in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a single-elimination, 64-team event — none are as excited for the occasion as Willie Cauley-Stein.

The former three-year UK star and 11-year NBA veteran seems especially enthused about, frankly, all aspects of the TBT experience.

“After talking to (former UK player Twany Beckham, the general manager of La Familia) and seeing how he was kind of buzzing about it, and his plans toward the whole week, I was kind of like, ‘Man, I think I need that energy right now,’” Cauley-Stein said. “It’s been a rough few years, so coming back and soaking up all that love out there … I’m excited to feel that and I think it’ll be refreshing.”

There’s the basketball side of things, with Cauley-Stein set to suit up alongside the likes of Aaron and Andrew Harrison, Eric Bledsoe, Daniel Orton and James Young among other ex-Cats on the hardwood.

Cauley-Stein and Young both played overseas on the same professional team in Italy this past season.

“Me and Willie, we’ve always been connected off the court throughout the years,” Young said. “… We’ve got so many memories together. I can’t even like explain it. Me and Willie are like brothers.”

The La Familia team — which also includes Brennan Canada, Kellan Grady, Kerem Kanter (the brother of Enes Kanter Freedom) and Nate Sestina — will be coached by Tyler Ulis, the former standout UK guard and coach.

Other aspects of the TBT reunion also filled Cauley-Stein with anticipation. This is highlighted by the chance to return to Central Kentucky, which he called home as a UK player from 2012-15.

Among La Familia’s participating players and coaches, these sentiments aren’t unique.

But Cauley-Stein certainly is, and the bond forged between himself and the Kentucky fan base over the course of his three seasons in Lexington (which featured a combined 88 wins) adds extra weight to the meaning of his Rupp Arena return, which will occur Friday night when La Familia plays 305 Ballers at 8 p.m. in an opening round TBT game.

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