Former New Orleans Hornets Forward Rasual Butler Tragically Dies At 38

Rasual Butler played 13 years in the NBA, staying in the league by doing whatever was asked of him. Defense, floor spacing, shooting. Whatever Butler's role needed to be, he would fill it.

At 6'7, the Philly native played for eight different teams during his career, including the New Orleans Hornets from 2005-2009.

Butler and his wife, R&B singer Leah LaBelle, tragically died this morning in Los Angeles in a single vehicle crash. He was 38 years old.

The news was first reported by TMZ.

Butler was driving his range rover at 2am at a dangerous speed above the speed limit, lost control of the vehicle, hit a parking meter, flipping the vehicle and crashing into a wall.

A star at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Butler is a member of their athletic Hall of Fame.

Butler was a member of the most successful NBA team in New Orleans history, when the Hornets won a franchise record 56 games in 2007-2008, losing in game 7 of the Western Conference semi-finals to the San Antonio Spurs.

He leaves behind one daughter, Raven, from a previous relationship.

LaBelle was signed by Epic Records, gaining her first fame in 2004 when she placed 12th on the third season of American Idol.