The Atlanta Hawks and College Park Skyhawks lost Lamont Butler for the season today to a torn Meniscus and ACL, the guard announced on Twitter. Butler signed a G League contract with the Skyhawks after impressing in a preseason thriller.
Well, this is tough to say but I will be out for the season with a Torn Meniscus and Torn ACL. 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… pic.twitter.com/RuPmlk25Cv
— Lamont Butler (@lamont_butler1) October 29, 2025
Butler and Atlanta were first reported to have reached an agreement on a two-way contract shortly after he went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft. Despite Kentucky Basketball confirming the signing on their official website, the report was ultimately false, as the Hawks would fill their three two-way spots a few weeks later.
Butler was then signed to the Hawks’ summer league squad, but fans would have to wait for his post-collegiate debut. He would miss the entire summer league while recovering from an ankle injury. In a strange turn of events, Butler was then signed to a “training camp” deal in late September but was cut just a couple days later, before camp had begun.
Butler will not make his regular season professional debut this year
He has played one game as a professional: a Hawks preseason game in which the top 9 rotation players rested. He was signed mere hours before tip-off alongside a couple other guards.
Butler stole the show on this quiet October night, dropping 15 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, and 3 steals on an impressive 3/7 from three point land and 6/7 from the free throw line. While he struggled with his twos against NBA rim protection, shooting just 2/8 from inside the arc, Butler gave fans hope that he could blossom into a real rotation player.
Butler first made waves on the national level when he led the 5-seed San Diego State Aztecs to an awe-inspiring Cinderella run in the 2023 NCAA tournament. Butler was one of the clear leaders of the team, averaging 10.5 points, 3.3 boards, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals on a hyper-efficient 57.3% effective field goal (relative to the college level).
Butler’s injury is a heartbreaking development. By all accounts, Butler is a standout person who is beloved by college basketball fans. Despite the setback, Butler will return to professional basketball. He was one of the premier perimeter defenders in the country as an upperclassman and shot a scorching 39.1% from three as a senior, leaving scores of potential suitors available after he recovers.
While the news is devastating, Butler’s tweet shows a shockingly optimistic viewpoint. Never underestimate the power of a healthy, optimistic mindset when recovering from injury. We wish Butler the best in his recovery process and hope to see him in a Hawks jersey again.