Rasual Butler

Rasual Butler (born Felix Rasual Cheeseborough;[1] 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. Butler was born in Philadelphia, and raised in the Point Breeze area of South Philadelphia. After playing college basketball with the La Salle Explorers, he was drafted in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft by the Heat. On January 31, 2018, Butler was behind the wheel when he and his girlfriend, Leah LaBelle, died in a single vehicle car crash in Los Angeles.

Rasual Butler
Butler in 2009
Personal information
Born(1979-05-23)May 23, 1979
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 31, 2018(2018-01-31) (aged 38)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolRoman Catholic
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
CollegeLa Salle (1998–2002)
NBA draft2002: 2nd round, 53rd overall pick
Selected by the Miami Heat
Playing career2002–2016
PositionSmall forward / shooting guard
Number45, 9, 8, 18
Career history
2002–2005Miami Heat
2005–2009New Orleans Hornets[lower-alpha 1]
2009–2011Los Angeles Clippers
2011Chicago Bulls
2011–2012Toronto Raptors
2012–2013Tulsa 66ers
2013–2014Indiana Pacers
2014–2015Washington Wizards
2015–2016San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life

Butler was born as Felix Rasual Cheeseborough to parents Felix Cheeseborough and Cheryl Taylor.[1] When he was aged eight, his father was murdered on a South Philadelphia street in an unsolved case.[1] Taylor changed her son's name to Rasual Butler using her mother's maiden name so Butler would not be constantly reminded of his father's death.[1]

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.[2]

Professional career

Miami Heat (2002–2005)

Butler was selected by the Miami Heat with the 53rd pick of the 2002 NBA draft.[3]

New Orleans Hornets (2005–2009)

After three seasons with the Heat, Butler 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 13 players, most notably Eddie Jones, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey.[4]

During the 2007–08 regular season, Butler averaged 17 minutes of action, 4.9 points and 2 rebounds per game while coming mostly from the bench.[5]

Los Angeles Clippers (2009–2011)
Butler with the Clippers in 2009

On August 12, 2009, the Los Angeles Clippers acquired Butler by trading a conditional 2016 second round draft pick.[6] He was waived by the Clippers on February 28, 2011.[7]

Chicago Bulls (2011)

Butler signed with the Chicago Bulls on March 3, 2011.[8]

Toronto Raptors (2011–2012)

In August 2011, Butler signed a one-year contract with CB Gran Canaria.[9] However, he never made an appearance for them on the court.

On December 10, 2011, Butler signed a new contract with the Toronto Raptors.[10] 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.[11]

Tulsa 66ers (2013)

On January 18, 2013, Butler joined the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.[12] 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.[13]

Indiana Pacers (2013–2014)

On September 27, 2013, Butler signed with the Indiana Pacers.[14][15] He averaged 2.7 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 50 games.[16]

Washington Wizards (2014–2015)

On September 29, 2014, Butler signed with the Washington Wizards.[17] 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.[18]

San Antonio Spurs (2015–2016)

On September 28, 2015, Butler signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[19]

Butler's final NBA game was played on March 8, 2016, in a 116 - 91 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves where he played for 5 minutes and recorded no stats. The very next day 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.[20]

On September 26, 2016, Butler signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves,[21] but was waived on October 22 after appearing in five preseason games.[22]

BIG3

In 2017, Butler was signed by the Ball Hogs to play in the BIG3. During the season, he was traded to Power.[23]

Player profile

Butler's outside shooting was 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.[24] His career-high total were 134 made three-point shots (37 percent) during the 2006–07 NBA season.[25]

Personal life

Butler had one adult daughter, Raven, who he lived with at the time of his death.[26] He starred in Trina's music video "Here We Go".[27] Butler was close friends with fellow NBA player Lamar Odom and was seen in episodes of his television show Khloé & Lamar.[28]

Death

On January 31, 2018, Butler and his partner (initially misidentified as his wife),[29] singer Leah LaBelle, were killed instantly in a high-speed car accident in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, after he lost control of his Range Rover on Ventura Boulevard and crashed violently into a strip mall parking lot.[30] Autopsy reports showed traces of methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana in Butler's body, and a blood alcohol content of 0.118%.[31]

NBA career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 *  Led the league

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2002–03 Miami 722821.0.362.292.7312.61.3.3.67.5
2003–04 Miami 45015.0.476.463.7621.4.5.2.36.8
2004–05 Miami 651518.5.399.373.7712.31.0.3.46.5
2005–06 New Orleans/Oklahoma City 792023.7.406.380.6932.9.5.4.68.7
2006–07 New Orleans/Oklahoma City 813827.4.398.369.6443.2.8.5.710.1
2007–08 New Orleans 51817.2.350.331.8392.0.7.3.44.9
2008–09 New Orleans 82*7431.9.433.390.7823.3.9.6.711.2
2009–10 L.A. Clippers 82*6433.0.409.336.8412.91.4.4.811.9
2010–11 L.A. Clippers 41218.1.323.326.6671.9.7.2.45.0
Chicago 604.3.545.571.0002.0.0.0.02.7
2011–12 Toronto 341413.3.308.273.5831.9.6.2.13.2
2013–14 Indiana 5027.6.464.419.571.8.3.1.22.7
2014–15 Washington 70120.1.422.387.7912.6.8.4.37.7
2015–16 San Antonio 4609.4.471.306.6881.2.5.3.52.7
Career 80926621.3.403.362.7472.4.8.4.57.5

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004 Miami 1005.8.409.333.0001.1.2.1.02.1
2005 Miami 12115.2.373.367.3331.5.6.1.14.7
2009 New Orleans 5531.6.459.5261.0003.0.2.2.810.6
2011 Chicago 302.31.0001.000.000.3.0.0.01.0
2014 Indiana 1006.3.357.4171.000.5.1.1.11.7
2015 Washington 203.5.000.000.000.5.5.0.0.0
Career 42611.2.407.417.8571.2.3.1.13.5

[32]

Notes
  1. During the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, the team was known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets during their temporary relocation to Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina.

References
  1. Fialkov, Harvey (October 14, 2002). "Growing Up Fast". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  2. Neubeck, Kyle (January 31, 2018). "Former La Salle star Rasual Butler dead at 38 following car crash". Philly Voice. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  3. "2002 NBA Draft". NBADraft.net. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  4. Reynolds, Tim (August 2, 2005). "Walker to Heat in five-team, 13-player megadeal". USA Today. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  5. "Rasual Butler 2007-08 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  6. "Clippers Acquire Rasual Butler From New Orleans". NBA.com. August 12, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  7. "CLIPPERS WAIVE BUTLER". NBA.com. February 28, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  8. "BULLS SIGN FREE AGENT RASUAL BUTLER". NBA.com. March 3, 2011. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  9. "CB Gran Canaria lands former Bulls Rasual Butler". Sportando.com. August 22, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  10. "Raptors Sign Free Agent Forward Rasual Butler". NBA.com. December 10, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  11. "Raptors waive Rasual Butler". ESPN.com. March 23, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  12. "Tulsa Acquires Guard Rasual Butler". OurSportsCentral.com. January 18, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  13. "Tulsa's Rasual Butler Earns 2013 NBA Development League Impact Player of the Year Award". NBA.com. April 19, 2013. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  14. Scott Agness [@ScottAgness] (September 27, 2013). "Pacers have officially signed @RasualButler45 and Hilton Armstrong. They'll have 17 in camp. Full roster:" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. "Pacers sign Hilton Armstrong". Sportando.com. September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  16. "Rasual Butler 2013-14 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  17. "Wizards Sign Six for Training Camp". NBA.com. September 29, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  18. "Rasual Butler's stunning resurgence leads to guaranteed contract". WashingtonPost.com. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  19. "SPURS ANNOUNCE 2015-16 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  20. "SPURS WAIVE RASUAL BUTLER". NBA.com. March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  21. "TIMBERWOLVES ANNOUNCE 2016-17 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER". NBA.com. September 26, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  22. "TIMBERWOLVES WAIVE BUTLER, MURRY". NBA.com. October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  23. "TRADE ALERT: Power acquires Rasual Butler From Ball Hogs". Big3.com. July 25, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  24. "Rasual Butler 2003-04 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  25. "Rasual Butler 2006-07 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  26. Robertson, Justin. "'He Was an Underdog:' the Inspiring Life and Puzzling Death of Rasual Butler". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  27. Whitaker, Land (April 17, 2006). "NBA Antics". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2006.
  28. "'Khloe & Lamar' Star Rasual Butler & Wife Leah LaBelle Killed In Car Crash". OK! Magazine. January 31, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  29. McCausland, Phil (January 31, 2018). "NBA player Rasual Butler and R&B singer Leah LaBelle killed in car crash". NBC News. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  30. Bloom, Tracy (January 31, 2018). "Ex-L.A. Clippers Player Rasual Butler, Wife Killed in Violent, High-Speed Crash in Studio City". KTLA. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  31. Hautman, Nicholas (June 1, 2018). "Rasual Butler, Leah LaBelle Had Meth, Alcohol in Systems at Time of Death". Us Weekly. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  32. "Rasual Butler Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
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