Rasual Butler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rasual Butler

Butler in 2009
Personal information
Born	(1979-05-23)May 23, 1979 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 31, 2018(2018-01-31) (aged 38) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
High school	Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College	La Salle (1998–2002)
NBA Draft	2002 / Round: 2 / Pick: 53rd overall
Selected by the Miami Heat
Pro career	2002–2016
Career history
2002–2005	Miami Heat
2005–2009	New Orleans Hornets
2009–2011	Los Angeles Clippers
2011	Chicago Bulls
2011–2012	Toronto Raptors
2012–2013	Tulsa 66ers
2013–2014	Indiana Pacers
2014–2015	Washington Wizards
2015–2016	San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
NBA D-League Impact Player of the Year (2013) 2× First-team All-Atlantic 10 (2001, 2002) Third-team Parade All-American (1998)

Rasual Butler (born Felix Rasual Cheeseborough; 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.

Early life

Butler was born as Felix Rasual Cheeseborough to parents Felix Cheeseborough and Cheryl Taylor. When he was aged eight, his father died. 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.

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

Miami Heat (2002–2005)

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

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.

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.

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. He was waived by the Clippers on February 28, 2011.

Chicago Bulls (2011)

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

Toronto Raptors (2011–2012)

In August 2011, Butler 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.

Tulsa 66ers (2013)

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.

Indiana Pacers (2013–2014)

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

Washington Wizards (2014–2015)

On September 29, 2014, Butler 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.

San Antonio Spurs (2015–2016)

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

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.

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

BIG3

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

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. His career-high total were 134 made three-point shots (37 percent) during the 2006–07 NBA season.

Personal life

Butler had one adult daughter, Raven, who he lived with at the time of his death. He 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.

Death

On January 31, 2018, Butler and his partner, 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.

NBA career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Rasual Butler para niños