Rasual Butler, a talented NBA professional, tragically lost his life in a horrific car accident, but his legacy continues to inspire basketball fans. Regarded as one of the most successful players in American basketball history, Butler’s journey in both his pre-professional and professional career was marked by remarkable achievements and dedication to the game.
Throughout his time in the NBA, Butler earned multiple awards and records, making a lasting impact on the sport. His on-court excellence not only cemented his status as a respected and honored player but also contributed to his wealth and fame. Though he is no longer with us, his incredible basketball legacy lives on in the hearts of fans across America.
Many basketball enthusiasts remain curious about Rasual Butler’s net worth, career earnings, and life story. If you’re one of them, read our in-depth article to discover the financial success and impact of Rasual Butler’s career.
Rasual Butler’s Family and Childhood
Rasual Butler took the first inhale of his life into the world on May 23, 1979, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His full name is Felix Rasual Cheeseborough. He is the son of his father, Felix Cheeseborough, and his mother, Cheryl Taylor.
Rasual Butler was a one-of-a-kind player and teammate before his tragic death in 2018.
“You can find guys that were more talented than Rasual, but in terms of work ethic, heart, dedication, he had the elite work ethic of a Kobe or LeBron.” https://t.co/XHRi4MOFZO pic.twitter.com/tYN114hzEY
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) December 10, 2019
At an early age, he lost his father. Butler’s school career was with the Roman Catholic High School of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here he spent the early years of his basketball career.
| Profession: | Basketball Player |
| Full Name: | Felix Rasual Cheeseborough |
| Father Name: | Felix Cheeseborough |
| Mother Name: | Cheryl Taylor |
| Position: | Small forward and shooting guard |
| Nationality: | American |
| Nickname: | Old Hat |
| High Education: | Roman Catholic High School |
| Horoscope: | Gemini |
| Build: | Athletic |
| Eye Color: | Black |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Marital Status: | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend: | Leah LaBelle Vladowski |
| Children: | Raven Butler |
| Draft: | 2002 |
| Achievements: |
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| Date of Birth: | May 23, 1979 |
| Birth Place: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| College Education: | La Salle University |
| Death: | January 31, 2018 |
| Height: | 6 ft. 7 inches |
| Weight: | 98 kg |
| Current age: | 38 years |
| Jersey Number: | 8, 9, 12, 18, 45. |
College Career
During his college career, he was admitted to La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At this college, he played in the La Salle Explorers men’s basketball program. His college care career was from 1998 to 2002. In his college life, he was inducted into the La Salle University Hall of Athletes as the sixth Explorer to score over 2,000 points in 2008. During his college career, he was named to the First Team All-Atlantic 10 in 2001 and the 2002 Verizon Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship All-Tournament team in 2002.
Rasual Butler’s NBA Contract History
He chased the ball for the Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Tulsa 66ers, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, and San Antonio Spurs during his 13-year professional career.
In the 2002 NBA draft, the Miami Heat took him 53rd overall in the 2nd round. He served on this team till 2005. From 2005 to 2009, he was with the New Orleans Hornets. Through a trade, he became part of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2009 and played for this team until 2011. Then he partially played for the Chicago Bulls. In 2011, he signed a contract with the Toronto Raptors and played for the 2011–2012 season. Next season, he wore the jersey of the Tulsa 66ers. He played on the field of basketball for the Indiana Pacers from 2013 to 2014. His 2014–2015 seasons were under the contract of the Washington Wizards. The last team of his professional career was the San Antonio Spurs. He played for this team from 2015 to 2016.
Career Records
In his NBA career, he participated in a total of 809 games and scored 7.5 points on average, grabbed 2.4 rebounds on average, and assisted on average. His other career statistics are AST, FG% 40.3, FG3% 36.2, FT% 74.7, eFG% 48.3, PER 10.6, WS 20.8.
Career Earnings:
| Seasons | Team | Earnings |
| 2011-12 | Toronto Raptors | 1.2 Million |
| 2013-14 | Indiana Pacers | 1.4 Million |
| 2014-15 | Washington Wizards | 1.4 Million |
| 2015-16 | San Antonio Spurs | 1.5 Million |
Rasual Butler’s Net Worth in 2025
Rasual started to turn over the chapter of his professional phase of life in 2002, and the chapter was closed in 2016. The net worth of this renowned basketball player is $3 million. He became a millionaire on the fortune of a successful basketball career in the field of basketball. The majority of his assets are derived from his career earnings. The rest of the wealth is from the earnings of his post-retirement life activities.
Achievements
Rasual Butler furnished his wall of achievements, awards, titles, recognition, records, and so many successes. He became the NBA D-League Impact Player of the Year in 2013.
He was part of the first-team All-Atlantic 10 in 2001 and 2002, two times. In 1998, he earned his place on the third-team Parade All-American along with Frank Williams.
Rasual Butler’s Wife/Girlfriend
Rasual Butler was not married in his personal life. He shared a relationship with American Idol contestant Leah LaBelle, with whom he died in a car accident. Butler had a daughter from his previous relationship named Raven Butler-Morris.
Height and Weight
Rasual Butler stands up to 6’7″ tall and weighs 215 pounds. In the field of basketball, his positions were small forward and shooting guard. He was accustomed to both positions. Depending upon the situation of the matches, he changed his position with the directions of the court. Playing in these positions, he proved that he was best suited for these positions. Being in these positions, he achieved lots of success and helped his teams win lots of matches.
His fans saw him skating on the field of basketball, wearing the jersey numbers 45, 8, 18, 12, and 9. These numbers became the love numbers of his career. All of these numbers represent his name. His fans still miss those jerseys with him on the field of basketball.
Rasual Butler’s Death
Butler is no longer in the world. He took the last inhale of his life on January 31, 2018, in Studio City, Los Angeles, California. In a horrific car crash, he and his girlfriend, singer Leah LaBelle, died simultaneously. At the time of his death, he was 38 years old.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was Rasual Butler’s estimated net worth?
- Rasual Butler’s estimated net worth was around $3 million, primarily earned from his NBA career and endorsements.
2. Which NBA teams did Rasual Butler play for?
- He played for multiple teams, including the Miami Heat, New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, and San Antonio Spurs during his 14-season NBA career.
3. How much did Rasual Butler earn during his NBA career?
- He earned over $20 million in salary throughout his NBA career.
4. What happened to Rasual Butler?
- Tragically, he and his wife, Leah LaBelle, passed away in a car accident in 2018 in Los Angeles.
5. What was Rasual Butler known for outside of basketball?
- He was known for his philanthropy, leadership as a veteran player, and involvement in community programs.
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Over the past five years, Rick C. Nees has written hundreds of NBA players' biographies, some of which have already been published in famous newspapers. He previously worked as- Commentator, Basketball Analyst, Basketball Player, Newspaper Sports Editor, Radio sports presenter. Rick grew up watching basketball leagues. He was a state-level high school basketball player who followed all NBA events since he was a child.
