Mark Pope’s first season with the Kentucky Wildcats was deemed a success by many fans in BBN.
Now, multiple players from Pope’s first-year roster will get their chance to play in the NBA.
The latest is Lamont Butler, who’s getting a two-way deal with the Atlanta Hawks, according to Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Butler ended his college career as the starting point guard for the Wildcats. He averaged 11.4 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 39.1% from behind the arc in his lone season with Kentucky. A defensive specialist during his college career, he also averaged 1.6 steals per game.
Butler spent the majority of his college career on the West Coast playing for the San Diego State Aztecs. The 6-foot-2 guard is highly recognized on the defensive end of the floor. In 2024, he was named the MWC Defensive Player of the Year.
Butler has a knack for playing in the clutch; he hit a game-winner to send the Aztecs to the National Championship game in 2023. He also brought his clutch gene to the Bluegrass State. Butler’s best performance in Kentucky Blue came in late December against the Wildcats’ in-state rivals, Louisville. He ended the game 10/10 from the floor and 6/6 from deep for 33 points and six assists.
Butler missed nine games during the season, but he demonstrated that durability was a significant part of his game throughout his career.
With Butler going undrafted and signing a two-way contract, he will spend some time in both the NBA G-League and with the Hawks. Butler will also look to showcase his game in the NBA Summer League, which is scheduled to take place in July.
The Hawks got a great player on and off the court. Best of luck to Butler in the ATL!