Former NBA Player Rasual Butler Dies in Fatal Car Crash

Former NBA player Rasual Butler was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Los Angeles early Wednesday morning (Jan. 31). He was just 38 years old.

According to ESPN, the crash took place in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, when his Range Rover struck parking meters and a wall and rolled into a parking lot.

In addition to Butler, his 31-year-old wife, Leah LaBelle Vladowski, also died in the crash. The couple was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:35 a.m.

Further details are unknown.

A number of former players and friends took to social media to mourn Butler, including Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant.

So sad this morning to here about my friend and teammate 😢 RIP Rasual Butler appreciate the people around u because u never kno 😔😔😔

— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) January 31, 2018

View this post on Instagram

Rasual and i my rookie year in Miami. This was my first public appearance and i was nervous to go along—So Sual joined to make it easier on me. That’s who he was—A great individual that was always there for people when they needed him. Today is a sad day—Sual’s family, his wife’s family and his NBA family mourn the lost of a great man. R.I.P philly boy Rasual Butler!

A post shared by dwyanewade (@dwyanewade) on Jan 31, 2018 at 12:11pm PST

Rest In Peace my brother 🙏🏾#RasualButler

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 31, 2018

Butler played 13 seasons in the NBA for eight different teams. He finished with career averages of 7.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

He entered the league in 2002, when he was selected by the Miami Heat in the second round of the draft out of La Salle. After three seasons with Miami, Butler also played for New Orleans, the LA Clippers, Chicago, Toronto, Indiana and Washington.