Kentucky Jaxson Robinson, Lamont Butler Making Progress On Their Returns

As Kentucky continues to navigate the challenges of the season, head coach Mark Pope provided a promising update on the statuses of  Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson. Both players, who have missed time due to injuries, were able to participate in a modified practice session, a significant step toward their eventual returns.

“Lamont and Jaxson were both in practice — they had modified practice, which is a good thing,” Pope said. “Kind of every day right now, it’s just — we know something from today about how much of the practice they were able to get through. With both of them, we’re going to know so much more in the morning, because it’s just, ‘How’s Jaxson’s wrist responding? How is Lamont’s shoulder responding?’”

Both Butler and Robinson have played integral roles for the Wildcats this season, and their absence has forced Kentucky to rely more heavily on younger players and different rotations. Butler, a key backcourt presence, has been averaging 12.5 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting a career-high 50.9% from the field and 38.5% from three. Robinson, on the other hand, is Kentucky’s second-leading scorer, averaging 13.3 points per game along with 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

While Pope remains optimistic about their recoveries, he acknowledged that neither player is guaranteed to be fully healthy before the season ends.

“It’s about how they respond the next day, and they were actually pretty functional in the limited work that they did today. Certainly, they’re both on the uptick,” Pope said. “We’re hopeful about both of them. I don’t know if either of them are going to be able to get to 100% health before the end of the season, but they’re making progress, so we’re really hopeful.”

With the SEC Tournament quickly approaching, getting Butler and Robinson back into the rotation could be a game-changer for the Wildcats. Their ability to contribute on both ends of the floor makes them valuable assets, especially in high-pressure postseason matchups. Kentucky has managed to stay competitive despite their absences, but adding two key pieces back into the mix could elevate the team’s performance significantly.

For now, Pope and the Wildcats will continue to take a cautious approach, evaluating Butler and Robinson’s progress on a daily basis. If they continue trending in the right direction, their return could provide Kentucky with the depth and experience needed to make a strong push in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments.