Ex-NBA player Rasual Butler and his wife, who appeared “American Idol,” were both killed in a car crash Wednesday morning, Jan. 31. Butler was 38.
He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that took place at around 2:30 a.m. local time. Butler lost control of his Range Rover, which hit a wall and rolled over. The car also hit several parking meters.
The female driver was later identified as his wife, Leah LaBelle, who is a singer that appeared on the third season of “American Idol.” She was 31.
Butler stopped playing in 2016, finishing with the San Antonio Spurs. USA Today asked him in 2014 why he persisted. “Because I wanted to play basketball. It’s very easy. It’s a simple answer. If you’re serious about doing what you love to do, then you’re going to do whatever it takes for you to continue to do what you love to do,” he said.
A number of NBA players expressed grief over his death.
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