Ex-NBA journeyman Rasual Butler, wife die in crash

Former NBA player Rasual Butler and his wife died in an automobile accident Wednesday in California.

According to Los Angeles police, Butler was speeding before jumping a curb, and his vehicle hit three parking meters and a concrete wall before flipping over twice and coming to rest in a shopping mall parking lot.

Butler, 38, and his wife, Leah LaBelle Vladowski, 31, were pronounced dead at the scene, Ed Winter, assistant chief investigator with the Los Angeles County coroner's office, said. An autopsy report is pending.

Butler played 13 seasons in the NBA with eight franchises as a swingman after being drafted out of La Salle by the Miami Heat in 2002.

"This is beyond a sad day for the Miami HEAT Family," team president Pat Riley said in a statement. "The loss of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah, is devastating. Rasual was one of the greatest people we have ever had play for us; a great player, teammate and better person.

"It's always hard to cope with losing those you shared your life with, but we feel blessed to have had such a bright light shine in all of our lives."

Butler's wife was an R&B singer who appeared on "American Idol" in 2004.

Butler played his final games with the San Antonio Spurs in the 2015-16 season and attended training camp with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016. He played in Ice Cube's BIG3 basketball league last summer.

He averaged 7.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 809 NBA games. Butler appeared in all 82 games for the 2009-10 Los Angeles Clippers and averaged a career-best 11.9 points per game.

"Rasual will long be remembered not only for his accomplishments on the court, but for his vibrant personality, positive outlook and the compassion he had for everyone around him," the Clippers said in a statement.

Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce were among the many players to react to the news on social media.

Also responding to Butler's death was Indiana Pacers president Kevin Pritchard.

"In his one season with us, Rasual was the consummate team player and a great role model for our younger players on how a professional should prepare and act, while being a positive influence on everyone who associated with him," he said. — Reuters