WATCH: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist Advocates for Stuttering Community

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was a tenacious defender who propelled Kentucky to a National Championship in 2012. Even though he made it look easy, life was never easy for the Wildcat who struggled with a stutter.

“The thing about the spotlight, it allows you to either sink or swim. In basketball, like in life, I might stutter a little bit, but I ain’t never sank.”

The former Kentucky star was the subject of a profile by the SEC Network. Instead of spending three minutes highlighting his achievements on the hardwood, it’s focused on how he’s advocating for others now that his basketball career has concluded.

Upon arriving in Lexington, he was given extensive resources at the University of Kentucky to work through his stutter. Initially, it forced him to shy away from the spotlight. By the season’s end, he was a natural behind a microphone.

Kidd-Gilchrist wants others who struggle with a stutter to have the same opportunities he had as a Kentucky basketball star. Earlier this month, he was at the Capitol in Frankfort, lobbying for legislators to pass a bill that would provide more health care access to those with a stutter. The bill was co-authored by Whitney Westerfield.

“This bill eliminates some arbitrary caps and limits on what coverage is available,” Sen. Westerfield said. “Speech therapy includes coverage for stuttering today, but there are some arbitrary restrictions on that; the number of speech therapy sessions you can have, or whether or not you develop the stutter as a child, or if you had some event later in life that caused a stutter. There may be some restrictions on your coverage then.”

Kidd-Gilchrist beamed with pride as the bill passed through the Senate. Once quieted by a stutter, he’s now speaking for those who struggle to do so themselves.

“Now I want to help those who have this issue or problem,” he told the SEC Network. “I never thought I’d be here today. I thought my voice would never be heard.”

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.