Rasual Butler (May 23, 1979 – January 31, 2018) was an American professional basketball player. In his 14-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career, he played for the Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs. He was born in Philadelphia, and raised in the Point Breeze area of South Philadelphia. After playing college basketball at La Salle, he was drafted in second round of the 2002 NBA draft by the Heat.

College career

Butler played his college career with the La Salle Explorers. He became the sixth Explorer to score over 2,000 points, and at the time of his induction into the La Salle University Hall of Athletes, he ranked fourth among the Explorer's all-time scorers (2,125). He was named to First Team All-Atlantic 10 (2001, 2002) and was selected to the Verizon Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship All-Tournament team in 2002. He was inducted into the La Salle Hall of Athletes in 2008.

Professional career

Butler was selected by the Miami Heat with the 53rd pick of the 2002 NBA draft.[1] After three seasons, he was traded to the New Orleans Hornets as part of the largest trade in NBA history. The four-team trade involved the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Utah Jazz, and featured thirteen players, most notably Eddie Jones, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey.

His outside shooting is considered to be his greatest strength, shooting 36 percent over the course of his career and even 46 percent (50 total) during the 2003–04 season from behind the three-point line. His career-high total were 134 made three-point shots (37 percent) during the 2006–07 NBA seaso.

During the 2007–08 regular season (still with the New Orleans Hornets), he averaged 17 minutes of action, 4.9 points and 2 rebounds per game while coming mostly from the bench.

On August 12, 2009, the Los Angeles Clippersacquired Butler by trading a conditional 2016 second round draft pick. He was waived by the Clippers on February 28, 2011, and signed with the Chicago Bulls on March 3, 2011.

In August 2011 he signed a one-year contract with CB Gran Canaria. However, he never made an appearance for them on the court.

On December 10, 2011 Butler signed a new contract with the Toronto Raptors. He was waived by the Raptors on March 23, 2012. He averaged 3.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 13 minutes of action in 34 games.

On January 18, 2013, Butler joined the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. He was subsequently named the 2013 Impact player of the Year which is awarded to a player who joined an NBA D-League team midway through the season and made the greatest contribution following his in-season acquisition.

On September 27, 2013, he signed with the Indiana Pacers. He averaged 2.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 50 games.

On September 29, 2014, he signed with the Washington Wizards. After an impressive preseason and a fractured wrist suffered by Bradley Beal, Butler made the final team prior to the start of the 2014–15 season. Within six regular season games, he was a force off the bench as he cemented a role under coach Randy Wittman.

On September 28, 2015, Butler signed with the San Antonio Spurs. On March 9, 2016, he was waived by the Spurs. He averaged 2.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 9.4 minutes in 46 games.

On September 26, 2016, Butler signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but was waived on October 22 after appearing in five preseason games.

Personal life

Butler starred in Trina's music video "Here We Go".

Butler was close friends with fellow NBA player Lamar Odom and was seen in episodes of his television show, Khloé & Lamar.

On January 31, 2018, Butler and his wife, singer Leah LaBelle, were both killed in a car accident in Studio City, California after Butler lost control of his Range Rover on Ventura Blvd and crashed in a strip mall parking lot.