One of the most beloved players from Mark Pope’s first Kentucky basketball team is still watching closely — and he likes what he’s seeing.
Former Wildcat guard Lamont Butler joined Pope on his weekly radio show Monday night and shared his thoughts on the current Kentucky squad, coming off its energized weekend win over Indiana.
Butler, who started all 27 games for UK last season, said the thing that stood out most wasn’t scheme or stats — it was effort.
“I feel like the energy was there,” Butler said. “The energy, the effort from everybody was really high. I think Mo Dioubate did a great job of bringing that toughness and effort. Everybody kind of followed along, and I think that’s what it takes sometimes.”
Butler knows what championship-level buy-in looks like. When healthy last season, he served as Kentucky’s starting point guard and posted career-best numbers across the board, averaging 11.4 points, 4.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game. Shoulder issues limited him down the stretch, but his leadership presence never wavered.
Now watching from afar, Butler also singled out junior forward Brandon Garrison for his response after being benched in Kentucky’s previous game.
“I was really proud of BG and how he bounced back from his other games he’s played and the energy he brought,” Butler said.
Garrison delivered six points, five rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal against Indiana — a stat line that reflected impact beyond scoring. Butler emphasized that kind of collective response is exactly what winning teams need.
“People don’t understand how hard it is to win college basketball games,” Butler said. “You need the whole team, everybody hitting on the right cylinders. Everybody going toward the same goal. I think it’s turning out really well for the team.”
Garrison is one of four returners from last season’s roster, along with Collin Chandler, Trent Noah and Otega Oweh — a core Butler believes can help stabilize a team still finding its identity.
While Kentucky pushes forward, Butler is navigating his own uphill climb.
After signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks in October, Butler suffered a devastating setback: a torn meniscus and torn ACL that will sideline him for the entire 2025–26 season. He said his rehab is progressing steadily after surgery four weeks ago.
“I’ve been getting rehab treatment five, six days a week,” Butler said. “I’ve been getting stronger. I’ve been walking without crutches now, able to lift my leg on my own. Being able to be independent again — it’s been a process, but I’m starting to progress really well.”
Pope revealed that Butler’s father recently sent him a video showing Butler already walking, a moment that underscored just how hard the former Cat is working to get back.
As Butler continues his recovery, Kentucky will return this week to a building filled with memories from his lone season in blue.
The Wildcats face No. 22 St. John’s on Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta — the same venue where Pope’s first Kentucky team stunned Duke early last season. Butler played a key role in that upset, finishing with nine points, four assists and three rebounds.
“That might be one of my favorite games I played as a Kentucky Wildcat,” Butler said. “We faced adversity, got down, and just rallied together. To do that in a Kentucky–Duke game — something I grew up watching — it was surreal.”
Even from the sidelines, Butler remains deeply connected to Kentucky basketball. And as he rehabs toward his own comeback, he’s clearly optimistic about the direction the Wildcats are heading.
