Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade have officially announced that Jared Butler will remain with the club after extending his contract through 2028.
The American guard joined the Serbian powerhouse in October 2025 after previous stints with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers, and quickly became one of the team's most important players.
According to the club announcement, Butler received numerous offers but decided to continue his journey in the red-and-white jersey.
Butler became one of Zvezda's leaders
During his first season with Crvena Zvezda, Butler established himself as one of the top scorers in the EuroLeague and one of the most important players on the roster.
He averaged 13.4 points (51.4% 2PT, 36.4% 3PT), 2.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 10.8 PIR over 32 EuroLeague games last season.
Butler's extension is also an important move for new head coach Ibon Navarro, who will lead Crvena Zvezda in the upcoming season.
Jared Butler
Credit Milosavljevic/SIPA - Scanpix
Butler in the NBA
Before moving to Europe, Butler had spent several seasons trying to establish himself in the NBA.
The 25-year-old guard was selected with the No. 40 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after a standout college career at Baylor, where he won the 2021 NCAA championship and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
Butler began his NBA career with the Utah Jazz before later playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Washington Wizards.
He then moved to the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2024-25 season, when Washington traded him to Philadelphia in a deal involving Reggie Jackson and future draft picks.
Butler had his most productive NBA stretch after that move. With Philadelphia, he averaged 11.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 24.3 minutes per game, while shooting 42.6% from the field and 35.2% from three-point range.
Overall, Butler has averaged 6.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists across 148 NBA games in his career.
