The late Rasual Butler, South Philadelphia native and former NBA player, has been honored with a new mural at Chew Playground, writes Jessica MacAulay for CBS News Philadelphia.
The new mural is the result of a partnership between City Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Mural Arts Philadelphia, along with designers Ivben Taqiy, Calo Rosa, and Cristian Esquerrena, among other Mural Arts Rec Crew members.
Butler’s oldest sister, Rashidah Butler-Taylor said she was overwhelmed with joy at the finished product.
“I can’t even wrap my mind around it. It’s remarkable,” Butler-Taylor said. “It means a lot to our family to honor our brother’s legacy. He did a lot in the community.”
The mural commemorates Butler’s career as a professional basketball player and pays homage to his Point Breeze roots. Butler was a graduate of Roman Catholic High School and attended La Salle University before entering the NBA in 2002. He played for eight different teams before retiring in 2016.
Chew Playground is the same court Butler often played basketball growing up.
“My brother, he learned how to play basketball on this court. He went here every day, day in and day out,” Butler-Taylor said.
Butler was killed in a car crash, along with his girlfriend, Leah LaBelle, in 2018.
Read more about Rasual Butler’s legacy being honored in CBS News Philadelphia.
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