Dallas Mavericks forward Caron Butler is finally getting back on the basketball floor in a competitive setting -- well, as competitive as a charity game game be.

Still, it should be quite a treat for the free-agent-to-be who ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee on Jan. 1 and missed the entire season including the Mavs' championship run. He's participating with a slew of other NBA players in what's being dubbed the "The South Florida All-Star Classic." The charity game scheduled for Oct. 8 is being organized by the Miami Heat's Big Three of Dywane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

"Happy to be healthy," Butler said.

It will be played at Florida International University where Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas happens to be the head coach.

Butler has been training at Attack Athletics in Chicago and said he plays pickup games daily with other NBA players training at the facility. This, though, will be his first game-type situation in a uniform and back in front of a cheering crowd.

A number of NBA All-Stars among others are expected to play including the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire and the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul.