Who will play point guard for Kentucky in Mark Pope’s first season in Lexington? He’s got two solid options: Lamont Butler, one of the best perimeter defenders in college basketball with a game-winner in the Final Four under his belt, and Kerr Kriisa, who knocked down 42.9 percent of his threes on 6.3 attempts per game in 2023-24 while averaging 4.7 assists per contest.
It just depends on what you’re looking for, maybe who else you have out on the floor at any given time to load up on defense, shooting or playmaking.
Reading between the lines, though, it appears the nod may go to the San Diego State transfer.
“I don’t know if there’s a guy that’s got more winning DNA. It’s what he cares about, it’s what he lives for, it’s all he thinks about,” Pope previously said of Butler. “As a guy that’s gonna be a real veteran, leading voice on this team, he’s made some of the biggest plays in all of college basketball over the last four or five years. I love that part of his DNA. … Lamont Butler is already a household name, but I think people will be like, ‘Wow, oh, my gosh. This dude has some afterburners.”
If you ask Butler, he doesn’t really care who is given the starting point guard tag. In fact, he believes he and Kriisa complement each other well and can play together. They’ve spent their early days on campus developing chemistry and feel there’s a clear fit.
“I think we’ll be great together, I’ve been hanging out with Kerr a lot since we’ve been here,” Butler said at the NEW ERA Event with Club Blue last weekend. “We’re starting to gain chemistry there, going to play beside each other and go out there, do our best.”
Just trying to win games
Should he get the nod, though, Butler feels he’s ready to lead the charge. It’s what he’s done throughout his career as a player who’s done nothing but win games over four years with 102 starts.
That’s his top priority, and if Pope feels the San Diego State transfer playing point guard will help the team do that, throw him the rock. He knows what to do with it.
“When I’m out there, I’m just trying to win every time I’m playing. Put me out there wherever, I’ll play center. I’m just trying to win,” Butler said. “I think I’ll be the lead guy, point guard, just trying to get guys (shots) because Pope’s offense is so free-flowing and fast. I think we’re going to have a great year, but on-ball or off-ball, I’m going to do my role.”
It doesn’t hurt having a game-winner in the Final Four to lead his team to the national championship game on his long list of career accolades. When your top priority is making a deep run in March like it is for Pope and the Wildcats, it’s easy to trust someone who has been there and done that.
Butler takes pride in that reputation and the leadership role that comes with it.
“I think as a point guard, you have to be a leader on the court,” Butler said. “That’s just what comes with the position. I do think my experience from playing in the tournament these last four years, I think that’s just going to help my leadership. Feel like I’ve grown as a leader through my years and I’m excited to get here and continue that leadership.”
Kentucky prioritizes Butler early
That’s what made Kentucky so appealing from the jump, Pope prioritizing the fifth-year transfer right away and going to the greatest of lengths to secure his commitment — he took his entire staff on a private jet out to Las Vegas to meet with Butler and didn’t leave until he was a Wildcat.
It’s exactly what he was looking for when he decided to enter the portal this offseason.
“It was big for me. Going into the portal, I wanted someone to have priority in me and I feel like Coach Pope and his staff did that,” Butler told KSR. “Once I committed, I felt the love from BBN and I’m really excited to go out there and play. I think it’s going to be a hell of a year.”
Now he hopes to return the favor and turn that trust into victories in his final season of eligibility, this time in blue and white.
“It’s amazing. Coach Pope does have a lot of trust in me, I hope to fulfill that trust when I’m out there on the court. It means a lot,” he added. “This year, I’m just going to go out there and play hard, try to win as much as possible.”
Big Blue Nation helps with the transition
And how about Big Blue Nation? They certainly helped make the transition easier for the Moreno Valley, CA native.
“Oh, it’s amazing. It’s amazing,” Butler said. “Everyone is so nice and, you know, loving and caring. BBN — everyone loves BBN. I understand how special this team is for them. I just can’t wait to go out there and play for them.”
There’s your lead guard, folks.
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