The 2024-25 season was a rollercoaster for Lamont Butler, the Kentucky Wildcats' gritty point guard whose heart and resilience defined his final year of college basketball. Transferring from San Diego State—where he etched his name in NCAA lore with a buzzer-beating shot in the 2023 Final Four—Butler arrived in Lexington with big expectations. What unfolded was a campaign marked by injury, perseverance, and an emotional crescendo that left fans in awe, even as the season ended in heartbreak.
It all began in mid-January when Butler first injured his left shoulder. The pain was severe enough to sideline him for four games, a stretch that tested Kentucky’s depth and Butler’s resolve. He returned briefly in February, only to reinjure the same shoulder against Tennessee, forcing him to miss two more contests. In total, he sat out six regular-season games, watching helplessly as his team navigated SEC play without its floor general. Known for his tenacious defense and steady leadership, Butler’s absence was palpable—Kentucky’s net rating plummeted without him on the court.
Yet Butler fought back each time, donning a bulky brace to stabilize his shoulder and grinding through rehab to reclaim his spot. His teammates and coach Mark Pope lauded his toughness, dubbing him the “one-armed bandit” for his refusal to quit. That grit carried into the SEC Tournament, where fate dealt another blow. In Kentucky’s opening-round win over Oklahoma, Butler drove to the basket midway through the first half and aggravated his shoulder once more. The agony was evident as he clutched his arm and headed to the locker room for imaging. Ruled out for the game—and later missing the quarterfinal loss to Alabama—it seemed his season might be over. Pope called it “devastating,” a gut punch to a player who had already endured so much.
But Butler wasn’t done. Cleared to play just in time for the NCAA Tournament, he returned with a vengeance, proving why he was Kentucky’s heart and soul. Against Troy in the first round, he eased back into action, going scoreless but logging 25 minutes to shake off the rust. Then, in a second-round clash with Illinois, Butler erupted—14 points on 4-of-5 shooting, three steals, and a commanding presence that propelled the Wildcats to the Sweet 16. Playing through an injury most would sit out with showcased what kind of young man Butler is. He loves his brothers and did all he could to be on the court with him.
That Elite Eight defeat—where Butler went 7-for-10 from the field, 4-for-5 from three, and added six rebounds and three assists—marked the end of Kentucky’s run and Butler’s college career. As the final buzzer sounded, Mark Pope was there, consoling his warrior point guard in a moment dripping with emotion. The Wildcats fell short of the Final Four, but Butler left everything on the floor. And in the moments following the loss, all of that reality set in. Mark Pope had to console him outside of the locker room.
What a season it was. Despite the setbacks, Butler set career highs across the board in his lone year at Kentucky: 11.4 points per game on 49.8% shooting, 39.1% from three, 4.3 assists, and 2.9 rebounds over 27 games. Compared to his previous bests—9.3 points in 2023-24, 34.2% from three in 2022-23, and 3.2 assists that same year—these numbers underscored his growth and sacrifice. At San Diego State, he’d been a defensive stalwart and clutch performer; at Kentucky, he became a complete leader, even with a shoulder that betrayed him time and again.
Looking back, Butler’s 2024-25 campaign wasn’t defined by the losses or the injuries, but by the fight he showed through it all. From the initial shoulder blow to the SEC Tournament scare, to his triumphant NCAA return, he gave Kentucky everything he had. As he heads into surgery, or wheverever he goes, and whatever lies beyond, one thing is clear: Lamont Butler’s legacy—built on courage, career highs, and an unbreakable spirit—will echo in Lexington for years to come.
“This is a special place with special people." Butler said during the press conference, and he was right. He made it even more special.