Former Kentucky PG Lamont Butler tears ACL, will miss 2025-26 season

Former Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler will miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season with a torn ACL, he revealed on Wednesday. Butler was gearing up to begin the season with the College Park Skyhawks, the Atlanta Hawks’ G-League affiliate, early next month.

“Well, this is tough to say but I will be out for the season with a Torn Meniscus and Torn ACL,” Butler wrote on X. “I was super excited to start the season with the Skyhawks and ready to show why I deserve to be on this stage and more. Had been battling injuries throughout last season and even this summer and had finally got fully healthy to be myself on the court again.

“One wrong tweak and now it’s a change of plans. God will be with me every step of the way in this journey of recovery. I have such great support around me and I’m motivated to attack this battle. Please continue to send prayers for a speedy recovery. Until then I will still be smiling and spreading my love. See y’all next season.”

That’s a massive blow for the undrafted rookie, who was signed to the Hawks earlier this month. Butler was a part of the Hawks’ NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025 team before signing his contract.

Before that, Butler spent one season at Kentucky (2024-25). He started in all 27 games he appeared in. He averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds, as well as 1.6 steals across 26.0 minutes. He helped lead the Wildcats to a Sweet 16 berth under first-year head coach Mark Pope.

He was one of five UK players to turn pro after the season. Koby Brea and Amari Williams were both selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, while Butler, Andrew Carr and Jaxson Robinson each signed deals of their own with NBA organizations.

Butler had a full college career at San Diego State before arriving in Lexington. From 2020-24, he finished his Aztecs career ranked fifth all-time in steals (183), sixth in conference victories (52), ninth in total victories and 10th in assists (338). He’s also a three-time Mountain West Conference All-Defensive Team member and was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2023-24.

The College Park Skyhawks will tip off its 2025-26 season against Raptors 905 on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Instead of suiting up for that matchup, Butler will be off recovering from surgery.