Lamont Butler says he's at '85 to 90 percent' following shoulder injury

Mark Pope said the most — and maybe the only — positive news coming out of Kentucky‘s 94-78 loss to No. 1 Auburn was that Lamont Butler finished the game healthy. No setbacks or re-aggravations, only forward progress.

After losing Jaxson Robinson for the year with a wrist injury, you have to take the small wins as they come. Butler finishing second on the team with 32 minutes while adding 15 points would certainly fit that description.

“He was probably the best thing for us,” Pope said. “Every play he gets through is really positive because he’s on his way back. He’s got two more games to really get to the elite level that he’s played at for most of the season. I’m really happy he’s making progress.”

How did he feel after the dust settled on the loss? He’s not quite 100 percent, but he’s getting there — and that’s all that matters.

“Yeah, I am (getting closer). I’m feeling good, just trying to go out there and win. That’s all it is,” Butler said after the game. “I feel good right now. I felt good coming out with my shoulder, so all we can do is get better from here. I feel like I’m around 85 to 90 percent.”

Butler played both a lot and well, but he wasn’t perfect. The fifth-year senior shot just 4-13 from the field and 0-3 from three while turning it over five times with no assists. He missed a couple of gimmes at the rim while also uncharacteristically giving the ball up, just not quite right after fighting through this shoulder issue that kept him out two full games and a portion of a third in February.

As he inches closer to full strength, Butler is forced to wear a heavy sleeve that disrupts his movement, potentially leading to some of those unfortunate miscues. It protects his shoulder, but it’s also an adjustment.

“It’s a little heavy, but it’s just there for protection. It protects my shoulder from taking hits or moving the wrong way. It’s definitely a little uncomfortable, but I’m getting used to it,” he said. “… When I get up there (on layups), it restricts it a little bit. It just protects my arm, I’m definitely glad it’s on there to help, but sometimes when I go up for layups it pulls my arm back a little bit. I just have to get used to it and play through it.”

While he’s getting his feet back underneath him, Butler actually feels he’s a better player — and leader, more specifically — than he was when healthy. Missing that time between Feb. 11 and 26 stunk, but there was plenty to learn watching from a different angle on the bench.

He hopes those two things go hand in hand as the world sees the best version of himself going into this core stretch in March.

“Not playing, you’re able to see a lot more when you’re not out there on the court from a different perspective,” he said. “I definitely feel like I upped my leadership status from that standpoint. That helped me be a lot more of a vocal leader — because I can’t go out there and play with you guys, right? I had to do a lot more talking, pulling guys to the side. That’s really helped me grow.”

Above all else, he’s just happy to be on the floor helping his team again.

“Mentally, I’m great. It’s a blessing to go out there and play the game I love,” Butler said. “To get healthy so quick, that’s definitely a blessing. Mentally, I’m good. … I’m just thankful to be out there playing.”