Lamont Butler Signs Two-Way Deal with the Atlanta Hawks

Lamont Butler did not hear his name called during the 2025 NBA Draft, but the former Kentucky point guard will get a shot to an NBA roster.

Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports Butler has signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young is officially put on notice.

If Butler performs well, the Hawks will be able to move the point guard back and forth freely between Atlanta and their G League affiliate in College Park, GA. His first proving ground will be in the NBA Summer League. This year’s event in Las Vegas is July 10-20.

Butler is a 6-foot-2 California native who began his college career at San Diego State. He scored more than 1,000 points over four years and was named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year following the 2024 campaign. Butler made the biggest play in the history of Aztec basketball, driving the length of the floor to bury a game-winning shot at the buzzer to advance to the 2023 National Championship Game.

Mark Pope prioritized Butler in the transfer portal. The new Kentucky head coach snuck onto a flight and quickly convinced the point guard to join Big Blue Nation. It was a move that paid off. Considered a defensive-first player, he had the best offensive season of his career, averaging 11.4 points on 49.8 percent shooting from the field while also knocking down a career-high 39.1 percent of his tries from three.

Kentucky was a better team when he was on the floor. Unfortunately, that was not always the case. He battled injuries at various times throughout the year, forcing him to miss nine games.

His most unforgettable moment in UK blue was one of the best performances ever by a Kentucky Wildcat against Louisville. Butler was a perfect 10-10 from the floor, including 6-6 from three-point land, to score 33 points in an 8-point win for the Wildcats.

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