Crvena Zvezda Belgrade added depth to its guard rotation on Thursday. The Serbian club signed Jared Butler, a 25-year-old former NBA player, though contract details remain undisclosed.
Butler stands at 1.90 meters and brings scoring punch from his recent stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards. Last season, he posted 9.0 points and 3.7 assists across 60 appearances for both teams.
In Philadelphia, the Louisiana native elevated his game further. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 assists in 28 outings, starting 17 times while logging 24.4 minutes per contest.
Butler linked up with future Maccabi Tel Aviv standouts Lonnie Walker, Oshae Brissett, and Jeff Dowtin during his 76ers tenure. He notched three 20-plus point performances, highlighted by a 26-point showing in January 2025.
Fans recall Butler’s college dominance at Baylor University. There, he guided the Bears to the 2021 NCAA title and earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the Final Four.
The guard entered the pros with the Utah Jazz in 2021. He later suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder over one season.
Across four NBA years, Butler logged 148 games with four franchises. His career averages sit at 6.7 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 rebounds in 13.8 minutes nightly.
Butler also honed his skills in the G League. He played for the Salt Lake City Stars, Grand Rapids Gold, and Capital City Go-Go affiliates.
This move marks his European debut. Crvena Zvezda Belgrade now eyes a climb in the EuroLeague standings.
The team holds a 3-2 record overall in the competition. Since Sasa Obradovic assumed head coaching duties, Crvena Zvezda has won its last two matches.
Butler inked a one-year, $2.5 million pact with the Phoenix Suns on July 24, 2025. The Suns waived him ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
