Exploring Rasual, The fourth in an occasional series following South Philly native Rasual Butler through his NBA career.
The Miami Heat’s Rasual Butler was eagerly anticipating his debut at the First Union Center.
Butler, a native of 20th and Manton streets, is playing his first season in the NBA as a backup forward. As his squad’s first away game with the 76ers approached, he rounded up tickets — even coaxing some of his teammates to give up their one-pair allowance — so family and friends could watch him make his homecoming.
As it turned out, all they watched was Butler sit on the bench. Such is the fickle fate of an NBA rookie.
But it was still a great visit for the 6-foot-7 player, who greeted old friends during a warm-up. Butler took particular pride in getting a courtside seat to the game for his grandfather, Robert Toomer, who lived with the athlete since he was a youngster.
"It’s wonderful right now," Butler said during a break from practice. "It’s a gratifying feeling for me to be coming back home where I played my high-school and college basketball. These are all the people who always supported me to see me in an NBA uniform."
The 23-year-old player, who was a standout at Roman Catholic High and La Salle University, had a little time to drive through his old neighborhood and say hello to loved ones. Then it was on to the First Union Center, where he used to dream of playing against Allen Iverson or Michael Jordan. Now Butler is in their league, trying to make himself known.
"You just realize they are basketball players just like you are," Butler said of the future Hall of Famers. "Some people just have skills that take them to another level. You just get out there and see how they are basketball players just like you are. It inspires you to reach the level they are at."
Butler will have to wait awhile to achieve the status he earned on the high-school and college levels. The rookie is averaging 17.6 minutes through the Heat’s first 12 games, but hasn’t seen much playing time since. He has played five minutes or less in recent games. But Butler knows he will get his chance. And when it comes, he’ll be ready.
"You have to take advantage of the opportunity when you get it," he said. "I am just waiting for another opportunity to get out on the floor and do the best I can."
That’s exactly what Butler did after the Heat selected him with the 53rd overall pick in June’s NBA draft. The player made an immediate impact on the Heat’s summer league squad, finishing second on the team in scoring with 106 points and leading the squad in field goals made (43) and minutes played (238). He averaged 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 26.4 minutes per game.
Butler’s top performance of the summer came against Orlando on July 9, when he connected on 10 of 13 field goal attempts for 24 points. His contributions helped the Heat finish the summer season 9-0.
Through 12 regular-season games, Butler was averaging 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. His most productive offensive performance came in last month’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, when he scored a career-best 15 points. In last month’s 30-point loss to the Washington Wizards, Butler saw 35 minutes of action and tallied 10 points and seven rebounds.
The player is confident he soon will produce the offense that made him a high-school and college star.
At Roman Catholic, Butler was selected to the Associated Press’ First Team All-State and Parade Magazine‘s Third Team All-American, as well as First Team All-City and All-Catholic. The 1998 Review Male Athlete of the Year earned a basketball scholarship to La Salle. Butler graduated last spring as the fourth-leading scorer in the Explorers’ history with 2,125 points.
Butler hasn’t experienced a winning season or played in a postseason tournament since his days at Roman Catholic.
He also is starting his NBA career as an underdog. The Heat is struggling with a 5-12 record, which put the team eight-and-a-half games behind the first-place 76ers in the Atlantic Division standings as of Monday. Miami is playing without all-star center Alonzo Mourning, who is sidelined with a kidney ailment. It might sound like a rebuilding year, but Butler and his teammates are still thinking playoffs.
"We are all professional basketball players who are paid to win games," he said. "We don’t believe we are rebuilding."
No matter how much court time he gets this season, Butler said he will maintain the work ethic that got him to the NBA.
"In order for me to reach my full potential, I have to work very hard at it all the time," he said. "I can never be content with what I have. I always have to push to be better."
