WATCH: @MKG14 was back in Lexington on Sunday to help out with a Special Olympics Basketball Camp at the Joe Craft Center. pic.twitter.com/GGEQyliSGl
— Eli Gehn (@EliGehnLEX18) June 30, 2019
Lexington (LEX 18) — Former Kentucky national champion and current Charlotte Hornets guard, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, was back in Lexington Sunday helping out with the Special Olympics at the Joe Craft Center.
There were 60 athletes from central and northern Kentucky and Louisville who attended the camp, which included working on general basketball skills, playing five-on-five games and hearing from MKG.
The camp was also staffed by local college and high school coaches and players, including seven members of the Kentucky Women’s Basketball Team.
“It’s great. Anybody who knows me and my background, I have my own challenges as well so I feel great knowing that I have a passion for people in general,” said Kidd-Gilchrist.
If you weren’t aware, Kidd-Gilchrist has been struggling with a speech impediment since he was young, so this event was a little extra special to him.
He was also happy to be back in Lexington, where he helped the Kentucky Men’s Basketball Team win the National Championship back in 2012.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Kidd-Gilchrist about being back in Lexington. “This is always a home base for me, my family, my friends.. it’s home base for me.”
After winning the National Championship in 2012, Kidd-Gilchrist was taken second overall by the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA Draft, right after his UK teammate Anthony Davis was taken first overall by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Of course, Charlotte is now called the Hornets, and MKG has remained with the Charlotte franchise ever since entering the league.
Through his NBA career, Kidd-Gilchrist has averaged 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the field.
He recently picked up his $13 million dollar player option for the 2019-2020 season.
