Lamont Butler grateful for 'one-of-a-kind experience' at Kentucky: "It's been a dream come true."

It’s hard to believe someone with a game-winner in the Final Four to advance to the national championship game still had boxes to check in college basketball. Lamont Butler entered the transfer portal seen as one of the toughest, most gifted perimeter defenders in the sport who did nothing but lead and win.

If there was one person built to run the show in Mark Pope’s first season at Kentucky, it was the reigning two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. It’s why Pope and his staff hopped on a plane and flew across the country on short notice to secure his commitment — not leaving until the fifth-year senior was officially a Wildcat.

“I was in Vegas working out during the pre-draft process. Coach Pope and his staff were flying out, then I started seeing tweets wondering who they’re going to see. We had a great talk and they persuaded me,” Butler told KSR before the season. “It’s Kentucky basketball, you know? Their vision for me and the team this year, it was great. I went back to working out after and then I get back to my phone, it says I had committed to Kentucky. I was like, ‘Dang! This is a whole new level!’

“That was fun, to be able to be a part of this, be a part of Kentucky basketball, wear it on my chest and in my heart for the whole year, it’s special.”

Pope wasn’t shy about stressing the importance of Butler’s addition and what it meant for his first run in Lexington after the star guard put pen to paper.

“Lamont Butler is the definition of a winner,” he said. “He might be the best perimeter defensive player in all of college basketball. Lamont has helped lead championship teams for the last four years and hit one of the most epic shots in the NCAA Tournament to send his team to the championship game.

“… I’m extremely excited to coach Lamont and to see the influence he’s going to have on this team.”

Fast forward to March and his time as a Wildcat is somehow coming to a close, bursting through that paper hoop as his name is called over the loudspeaker on Senior Day. The best is yet to come, hopefully — Kentucky did sign him for the postseason success, after all, not just what he brings to the table in the regular season — but there is something bittersweet about suiting up one final time inside Rupp Arena.

For Butler, it was a lifelong dream finally coming true.

“It’s been amazing, it’s been a dream come true, man,” he said ahead of Senior Day. “I’ve always dreamed of playing here, ever since I was younger. Playing at Kentucky, to be here and be able to live that dream out, have these great battles here at Rupp Arena, it’s definitely been a blessing. I’m glad to say I was able to be here.”

His time in Lexington has been filled with highs and lows, the latter mostly involving nagging injuries that have taken him off the floor — an ankle issue limited him early, followed by a shoulder injury late. When healthy, though, Butler has been everything promised and then some, averaging career-highs in points (12.4), assists (4.5), rebounds (2.9) and steals (1.7) while shooting career bests overall (49.4%) and from three (35.7%).

No moment was bigger and brighter than his all-time performance in the win over Louisville, Butler going for a career-high 33 points on a perfect 10-10 shooting and 6-6 from three.

“Lamont Butler just gave us one of the all-time greatest performances in the history of his super special game,” Pope said at the time. “All-time. The numbers back it up. The way he came into it backs it up. … I’m so proud of him.”

What did that experience mean to Butler?

“Louisville game was a one-of-a-kind moment, one-of-a-kind experience. Just doing it here at Rupp Arena, having a game like that and having the crowd back me on that, it was an amazing experience,” he said ahead of Senior Day. “For me, to put that performance on for this state, for this program and my team, it was a special moment for myself.

“I grew up watching Kentucky, so it’s definitely a dream come true to be here and I can’t wait for Senior Night to really feel all of the emotions. I feel like I put my heart out for this team and fanbase. This was a great experience in totality.”

Senior Day Spotlight, @lamont_butler1 going perfect from the field vs Louisville. pic.twitter.com/V34m3iocCJ

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 3, 2025

His time in Rupp Arena comes to an end on Tuesday against LSU, but the best is yet to (hopefully) come with postseason play set to begin next week.

It’s been one heck of a ride, PG1. Let’s keep it rolling a few more weeks, shall we?