Rasual Butler
A journeyman NBA sharpshooter whose perseverance through 14 seasons and personal tragedy left a lasting mark of professionalism and kindness.
1979–2018 (age 39)·American basketball player·Birthday: May 23·Generation X
Biography
Rasual Butler's basketball narrative is one of grit and reinvention. A second-round pick out of La Salle, he wasn't a destined star but a worker who carved out a role as a reliable three-point specialist and defensive presence on the wing. Over 14 seasons with eight different teams, Butler embodied the NBA journeyman, always prepared to contribute minutes and leadership from the bench. His career peak came in his thirties with the Washington Wizards, where he became a valued veteran. Tragically, his life was cut short in a car accident in 2018. He is remembered not just for his quiet consistency on the court, but for the widespread testimonials to his character, generosity, and the positive impact he had on every community he touched.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rasual was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rasual Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Rasual's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Died at 39
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- Played 14 seasons in the NBA for eight different franchises, a testament to his lasting value as a role player.
- Set a then-club record for three-pointers made in a season for the New Orleans Hornets during the 2008-09 campaign.
- Averaged a career-high 11.4 points per game during the 2014-15 season with the Washington Wizards at age 35.
- Played in 809 regular season NBA games, scoring over 5,600 points in his professional career.
Did You Know?
He was known for having one of the most meticulous and extensive pre-game shooting routines in the league.
Butler was an accomplished musician and recorded R&B music under the name Sual.
He and his girlfriend, singer Leah LaBelle, were tragically killed in the same car accident in 2018.
He was deeply involved in charity work, particularly in his hometown of Philadelphia and in New Orleans.
“My role was to defend, rebound, and knock down open shots.”
