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Atlanta Hawks sign Lamont Butler after 2025 NBA Draft

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater•06/27/25•

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Lamont Butler
Jordan Prather | Imagn Images

A few Kentucky Wildcats were drafted or have been signed coming out of the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday. Lamont Butler says he was among them with reporting as well coming out of the night.

Butler, at a draft party last night, announced to those in attendance that he had been signed by the Atlanta Hawks. It’s currently undetermined on what kind of contract he inked with the franchise, whether on a two-way or an Exhibit-10.

Four players for UK have seen their professional careers begin since the start of the second round of the draft. The Phoenix Suns got Koby Brea at No. 41 overall, the Boston Celtics ended up with Amari Williams at No. 46, and Andrew Carr has since signed an Exhibit-10 deal with the Portland Trailblazers. The program is then awaiting news on Jaxson Robinson as well.

Butler spent five seasons, playing in 158 collegiate games with 129 starts, for San Diego State and Kentucky. He averaged 8.3 points (42.8% FG, 33.3% 3PT), 2.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in his career with the Aztecs and Wildcats.

Spending a majority of that time in San Diego, Butler posted 7.7 points (41.2% FG, 32.1% 3PT), 2.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals, going on to be a one-time selection on the All-Mountain West Third Team, a three-time choice to the All-Mountain West Defensive Team, and once being Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. SDSU went 104-32 (.765) while he was there, won four conference titles, and made the NCAA Tournament in each of the four seasons, including a Sweet 16 in 2024 as well as a runner-up finish in the national championship in 2023. They played for the national title against Connecticut that year after Butler hit an all-time, game-winning buzzer beater over FAU in the Final Four.

Then, in one season after transferring to Lexington, Butler had a career-best season averaging 11.4 points (49.8% FG, 39.1% 3PT on 1.0 makes), 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. He, along with several other transfer teammates, would lead the Wildcats to a record of 24-12 (.667) and return to the Sweet 16 in the school’s first season under Mark Pope.

Butler earned his reputation as a defensive guard who only improved offensively around that, especially in this last season at Kentucky. He’ll now be taking that with him to Atlanta as he goes to represent the Hawks’ franchise after his reported signing.