by Charlie O. Mallonee

One word describes Willie Cauley-Stein’s debut in Sacramento – impressive.

The giant of a young man handled the Sacramento press with a style and ease that comes only from having been on the big stage before. Cauley-Stein learned how to carry himself in his days at Kentucky.

It is really hard to explain the madness that is Kentucky Wildcats basketball. The Wildcats fans are truly fanatical. They are Sacramento Kings fans times three. The state of Kentucky literally lives and dies with their Wildcats. There is not a college basketball program on the west coast that comes close to the importance of Kentucky basketball to its fans.

That is the stage on which Cauley-Stein has grown up on over the past three seasons. Not only are the Wildcats the lead story on the local news, but Kentucky basketball is reported on throughout the Midwest, Southeast and Northeast. Wildcats basketball is often the lead story on ESPN and other sports networks.

During the Kentucky 38-0 run last season, the team was covered nationally on a day to day basis. Cauley-Stein has dealt with the press before, and it showed on Saturday. He was calm, cool and collected.

Following opening remarks by Vlade Divac and Vivek Ranadive, Cauley-Stein took control of the room. He started off by comparing the Kings fans to the Kentucky fans. “They’re super passionate,” he said.

Cauley-Stein was surprised by the large number of fans that were at the airport to greet him late Friday night. “I was not expecting that at all. They told me while I was walking off (the plane) that there would be some fans out there. I figured a couple of fans and sign some autographs. It was like an eruption … it was really cool,” said the newest King.

When asked if he had spoken with DeMarcus Cousins, Cauley-Stein revealed, “I actually just got done talking with him. He is super excited to have me on the team. We’ve both been talking. We’re thinking big things here. We’re anxious to get it going.”

Cauley-Stein told reporters he felt good about his workout in Sacramento and had a feeling that he could wind up with the Kings. He also added the line of the day, “I look good in purple.”

The newest King also seems excited that the Kings and Kentucky play a very similar style offense. “The cool thing about it is it’s very versatile, so it plays right into my hands. I can play multiple positions so I can fit in wherever I am needed. It’s very beneficial because as a rookie I’m not going to have to learn as much. I can learn the speed of the game and the physical play of the NBA,” he explained.

Cauley-Stein was asked about how his three years at Kentucky would help at the NBA level. “I’m a little older. The young adults that come into the league are 18 or 19 years old and I’m about to turn 22. In playing for Coach Cal (John Calipari), he runs his program like a pro program. I am kind of used to the pro life playing at the college level. Our fans are similar. The scrutiny that you go through, the spotlight that you’re in all the time. It’s not going to be any different than anything I’m already used to,” he related.

Responding to a question about defense Cauley-Stein said, “I look at myself as a defensive stopper. I take an extreme amount of pride in playing defense. The only way to win a championship is to be cohesive and play as a group defensively.We’re all pros. We’re going to score, but if you can’t stop the other person you are not going to win. So, that’s kind of my thing. I play super high intensity defense. If that is what we need, then that is what I’m going to do. I want to be that anchor. I want to the person who is going to the stopper.”

The big 7-footer was asked how long he had wanted to be a NBA player. After some thought he said, ” Probably since third grade. The teacher asked what do you want to be when you grow up. Everyone else was saying doctor, astronaut, army man. I raised my hand and said I want to play in the NBA. Everyone kind of snickered and laughed. There were 20 kids in my class – 800 people in my town. They said you’re not going to the NBA. I said just watch. I’m going make it.”

Cauley-Stein did make it. He is a Sacramento King now, and those 19 other third graders will be calling him for tickets to games.

Willie Cauley-Stein appears to be excited to be a member the Sacramento Kings. He appears to be at ease with taking on his new role as a NBA player. Will he be successful? Only time will let us answer that question, but I wouldn’t bet against him.