I dont think a lot of people understand how somebody from Alabama or Mississippi was raised. Thats how she ended up at a Suns game a few years ago on Latino Night and found out about Bookers heritage. In March, Devin scored 34 points against Miami Heat to achieve yet another career milestone and his careers best performance to date. Watched sports together. Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker appear to be taking their relationship to the next level after a recent video showed the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star meeting Devin's grandmother. He ended up meeting Devins mother, Veronica, when he was playing for the Grand Rapids Mackers in the 1995-1996 CBA season. It's Los Suns for a reason, right? His maternal grandfather hails from Mexico. Devin quickly became a very good shooter and continued to grow to 6-foot-6. The 24-year-old Lugo had the one of the most coveted pieces of memorabilia in the house: a custom-made Mexican flag with a Suns logo in place of the shield, and Bookers face plastered on a prayer candle. She hopes that as Booker continues to grow into his role as the teams star and face of the franchise, hell also feel confident in speaking out against issues that face the Latino community. I had to convince them that he had to move to Mississippi if he wanted to move to that next level, Melvin Booker said. Since Melvin was playing basketball overseas most of his life, the one-on-one that he got with his father was good for him.. This is exactly what Lugo was hoping to do when he commissioned the flag: He wanted to represent, and to let other Suns fans know about Bookers heritage. He wanted his son to join him to not only grow as a basketball player, but as a young man in Mississippi and learn a better work ethic. I think this is a beautiful time to embrace our culture and love it with a passion, Devin Booker said. As a father, hed do anything I wanted to do. He was very supportive of everything that I did and still do today. When Booker was initially left off the 2020 All-Star roster, Damian Lillard voiced his hopes that Booker would take his spot when the Blazers star suffered an injury that would keep him out of the game. Perla Macias, Jasons wife and a Mexican national who moved to the States at 6 years old and just recently became a citizen, has been involved with Latino outreach organizations around Phoenix. Devin Booker, 70 points - March 24, 2017. Mac McClung checking his new followers. Devin Booker said most of the communication when his dad was overseas was through e-mail, which was frustratingly sporadic due to the time difference. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. They played video games together. Rounding out his collection is a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS finished in black cherry. A shooting guard, Booker received a star status after being the 13th overall draft and being selected by Phoenix Suns. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. But there was always a connection, a warmth, pleasantries, between the two. But Devin didnt want to leave his mom and his friends. Booker is a two-time NBA All-Star and has been selected to play for Team USA in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which starts July 25, just three days after a possible Game 7 in the NBA Finals . Its 11 p.m. on the night before Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals, and the space in front of Phoenix Suns Arena is brightly lit. Sometimes I would go up to [Michigan] to watch him. With family being the most important thing to me, its also very embraced in the Mexican culture. Devin was born to Melvin Booker and Veronica Gutierrez on 30th October 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Devin Booker #1 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Rupp Arena on February 28, 2015 in Lexington, Kentucky. The avid Suns fan attended the game at Footprint Center and met Suns All-Star Devin Booker 30 minutes before tip. Devin Booker was born to play basketball as his father is a former professional basketball player. 1 / 3. I was trying to make up for the times I missed when I was gone, he told the outlet in 2016. I think for those of us that are Hispanic, there is even another layer to that. For her to allow it to happen is unbelievable.. I was with my family back home. . And while the Gutirrez brothers and other Latino fans have plenty of respect and appreciation for a player like Chris Paul, whose arrival last offseason helped turn the Suns into a contender, what they feel for Booker is something much greater: a cultural connection. Booker's grandfather immigrated from Nogales, Mexico, to Michigan where the 2020 All-Star ultimately grew up. I shared a locker room with [Hakeem] Olajuwon, [Clyde] Drexler and Sam Cassell.. He convinced Gutierrez and Devin on a move to Mississippi before his sophomore year in high school so that he could be trained and prepared to play at a big-time college. He became an assistant basketball coach at his alma mater, Moss Point High School, after retiring from playing professionally. The former Kentucky Wildcat didnt start a single game and averaged just 21.5 minutes in his lone collegiate season. Melvin Booker, however, believed that Moss Point High would benefit from his sons presence on and off the court. The preservation of a basketball legacy strengthened Melvin Bookers relationship with his son. Gerardo can rattle off facts about Booker like he's a walking Wikipedia page: Booker's mom is Mexican American, and his grandfather was born in Los Nogales, Mexico, a town near the Texas. Grandville was a town that was dominated by its white population. Devins performance got better over the years, and his father soon announced that he was contacted by a few NBA teams that were interested to acquire Devin. Phoenix didnt do well in his honor, losing to Dallas 111-95, but Booker provided an intriguing silver lining. But Melvin Booker said the relationship and bond grew so much closer during his sons three years at Moss Point. At first, just being out of your comfort zone was a thing for me. Watson is half-Mexican, from his mothers side, and, according to Ochoa, was always proud of that fact. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ive talked to my teammate Tyler Johnson about it. Off the bench: Bookers star status was built on a bench players foundation in college. He made the 2016 NBA all-rookie first team, quickly earned a reputation as one of the NBAs top shooters and is the Suns leading scorer. By Vrushali Padia Published Mar 19, 2022. Learn more about the Hall of Fame career of the legendary point guard. He began his standout basketball career at Moss Point High School . Jarred Vanderbilt is Devin Booker's grandfather. In his first seven Summer League games, Devin averaged more than 15 points per game and proved his mettle. Booker has said in the past that this has been much easier for him to do in Phoenix, a city with a population. He is not living through me. Devin Booker hasnt disappointed. In June 2015, he was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 13th overall pick. That made me want to learn about myself much more honestly because I just hadn't been around. He found a role model in his father and started practicing basketball in school. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I see that as a wink to us because I think he knows thats how we dress. Get to know the Phoenix Suns' young superstar with these 10 interesting factoids about his life and career. He made his professional NBA debut against the Dallas Mavericks two days before his 19th birthday. Most of the time with breaking records and such, he leaves me speechless, she wrote. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would grow as a person from being at a school where most students didnt have his blessings. But he said that me being drafted is better than him being drafted.. 25. Gerardo can rattle off facts about Booker like hes a walking Wikipedia page: Bookers mom is Mexican American, and his grandfather was born in Los Nogales, Mexico, a town near the Texas border. Twenty-four-year-old Gerardo Gutirrez and his brother, 20-year-old German Gutirrez, are two of the few people there, sipping the last drops of their Dutch Bros iced coffee and taking pictures of the stadium marquee signaling that their team is hosting an NBA Finals. He ended up at the fourth spot in the race for the 2016 Rookie of the Year award. I still have mixed feelings about it, Gutierrez wrote. It instilled more trust in him. He finished his three-year career as the schools all-time leading scorer with 2,518 points. After splitting from Melvin, Veronica went on to have her third child, daughter Mya Powell, who reportedly has chromosome 22 deletion syndrome. His mom even has the same last name as us: Gutirrez.. One even stopped behind it and crossed himself. Melvin Booker told his son that he needed to have a high basketball IQ since he didnt own elite athleticism and running ability. Devin Booker is part Puerto Rican from his mothers side, and this qualifies him to play for the national Puerto Rican team if he desires to do so. He's a former NBA player himself, born on August 20, 1972, and is the reason Devin is the star he is today. lxkandel06 22 days ago. So I think with the team that we have, the culture that we have, that coach Monty has put together, this is the best position that weve been in since Ive been here, to make those dreams and aspirations come to life. I gave it some time. Gerardo was at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport two weeks ago when the team returned from Los Angeles after clinching a Finals berth, and he recalls fans chanting Si se puede (Yes, we can) as the players walked through. The 1994 Big Eight Conference Player of the Year averaged 18.1 points, 4.5 assists and two 3-pointers per game during his senior season. His scoring talent was probably more suited for todays game as his height at his position was held against him. Born In: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, See the events in life of Devin Booker in Chronological Order, (American Professional Basketball Player Who Plays as the Shooting guard), https://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-draft-points-view-devin-booker#gref, https://hoopshype.com/2017/03/11/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-devin-booker/, Devin Booker was born on October 30, 1996, in Michigan, to an AfricanAmerican father, Melvin Brooker, and his MexicanAmerican and Puerto Rican partner, Veronica Gutirrez. Melvin Booker gave strong credit to Gutierrez for doing a great job of keeping me connected while he was playing professional basketball and allowing him to get off-season time with his only child. I didnt tell him at all, but I called my mom that night telling her that I might be back soon. He's just not. The couple did not marry but remained on good terms. Los Suns, said Richard Valdes from Phoenix. It means a lot to me. The Suns, including owner Robert Sarver, spoke out against the bill and wore their Los Suns jerseys in solidarity with the community. Ochoa believes that Earl Watson, the Suns coach for parts of three recent seasons, is a big part of the reason Booker began embracing the culture. Fathers Day was the following day, and the representative asked Doctor if he could paint a portrait of Booker and his dad, Melvin, who played basketball at Mizzou. And I think for Latino kids, its probably a little bit easier to envision themselves as Devin Booker.. His father played professional basketball in the NBA and overseas, and Booker spent his summers in Italy when his father was playing for Olimpia Milano. Imagine how I have to paint that picture over the airwaves so that those who listen to us who are Mexican, so that they can feel proud of a guy who shares their blood being an NBA star and who might be the most important player in the city since Larry Fitzgerald.. Bookers former coach in Phoenix, Earl Watson, shares a similar background with his maternal grandparents hailing from Mexico. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devin's father and grandfather also attended the high school. If you have a dream and you have the work ethic to match that dream, anything is possible.. The undersized point guard was stunned as he went undrafted. His dad couldnt be prouder. Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. His maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico, and he has referenced his strong ties to his family and Mexican culture on multiple occasions. I was trying to make up for the times I missed when I was gone.. This high school in the South had serious urban problems. Devin Booker Personal Life. Mya supports her brother during the matches and is an inspiration to Devin. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. Huh, I thought Gary Trent was Luka Doncic father. Also, being the support for your family and being the backbone of your family and how important that is.. Devin certainly considered it, but didnt give up and it eventually worked out very well. Its something thats not too late to learn because, at the end of the day, this is what makes up me, said Booker. I remember him as a little kid and all he talked about is that he wanted to be a professional basketball player, Melvin Booker said. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Im ready for you. But I stayed because of the mindset I had my whole life was just never giving up. I wasnt going to make the decision for him.. Devin spent his early years in Grandville, Michigan, which was a suburb of Grand Rapids. A few print shops didnt have the right material, and some just outright refused to do it. Only two photos of him exist in the leagues Getty/NBAE archives. Its hard to explain. He called his opportunity a blessing because he was able to see the world. I dont look back on that. With Booker's help, his younger half-sister, who has microdeletion syndrome, will be a Special Olympics worldwide ambassador in 2020. After his first day of high school in Mississippi, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker had his dad quite worried that he was going to pack his bags to go back to Michigan. The ones in downtown Phoenix, those are a little different.. We talked about maybe getting a tutor that can be on the planes with us or something like that. Down to just people saying Kobe when they shoot a piece of trash in the garbage. Luka Doncic is Devin Booker father. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would grow as a person from being at a school where most students didn't have his blessings. When you ask people around Phoenix when they became aware of Bookers Mexican heritage, everyone has a different answer: the 2017 game the Suns played in Mexico, or the one in 2019; through the video the team put out for National Hispanic Heritage Month last year; or just this past season, as the Suns became one of the best teams in the league and Booker became an even bigger star. Latin-American ambassador: Bookers maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico, a fact Booker has grown to appreciate even more since being drafted by Phoenix. Even then, he still dedicated portions of his post-practice routine to footwork and shot-making on the block. Eventually, Melvin ended his career to return home to coach his high school team and focus on his son. Stuntin like his daddy: How Devin Bookers father paved his path to the NBA. I think just seeing that, I understand where they come from, their mannerisms and how they carry themselves., Being in Phoenix, a bustling metropolis with a lot of transplants, has also stoked the curiosity of his background given its proximity to Mexico. Vigil remembers Booker showing up to an All-Star Week event in 2019 in a pair of baggy chinos, a black flannel buttoned up all the way to the top, Chicano style, and an old-school camcorder in his hand. 1.4K. Were going to see him do and be more involved in our community.. My favorite part about being Mexican is the culture and being a part of the heritage, Booker said. From his upbringing to being Gigi Bryant's favorite player, here's some things to know about the Hawks star. I dont think any kid can just make that move that I made but I understood the goal that was at hand and I just embraced the Mississippi culture, you know, the inner city and it was good for me, Booker said. Oops. If youre lucky, you might see one of the artists working on a piece when you visit. A native of Cananea, Sonora, a city four and a half hours south of Phoenix in Mexico, Ochoa has been calling Suns games since 2004. He played for the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams during his freshman year at Grandville High School in Michigan instead of joining his dad. Devin averaged 10 points, shot 41 percent from 3-point range for loaded Kentucky and was named the 2015 Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year. The athletes parents, Melvin Booker and Veronica Gutierrez, led successful careers of their own as they raised him, and have been a huge part of his life. LoWE11053211 21 days ago. Devin Booker 2015-16 Panini Complete Rookie RC #296 Phoenix Suns Pre-Owned $20.00 Seller: matts_cardz (12,281) 100% Buy It Now +$4.95 shipping Sponsored 2015-16 Panini Gold Standard DEVIN BOOKER RC Jersey /149 BGS 9 w/ 10 AUTO RPA $349.95 Seller: meets2 (955) 99.6% or Best Offer +$3.95 shipping Authenticity Guarantee 13 watchers Sponsored But living around it and the culture and getting to see it day to day is a lot better. After the passing of his grandfather, Booker made it an emphasis to get intact. He died aged 67. The Suns cut the deficit to 10 before ultimately falling 130-120, but not before Booker became the youngest player in league history to hit the 70-point mark. He did eventually make it to the NBA, first playing 11 games for the Houston Rockets during the 1995-96 season. Everything we did was competitive, Devin Booker said. Not that there's anything wrong with that. My relationship with my grandfather was unbelievable, Booker said. Like father, like son, Melvin was also a basketball player at the University of Missouri. Bookerwho grew up near Grand Rapids, Michigan, moved to Mississippi in high school, and played college ball at Kentuckysaid recently that he hadnt been able to fully connect with his Latino heritage until he arrived in Phoenix in 2015, at the age of 18. After retiring from professional basketball in 2008, Melvin used his time to help Devin prepare for his own career and was hired as an assistant coach to his old high school, Moss Point High School, in 2011. The more Booker researched his Hispanic background, the more he saw the similarities between his own ideals and the Mexican heritage within his bloodline. Im around [Latino culture] every day, Booker said the day after winning Game 1 of the Finals. However, Melvin managed to convince Devins mother, and Devin was soon enrolled at Moss Point High School, where Melvin was hired as an assistant coach. Im in a position where Im coming into now, where I understand how important it is. Just because it was a Mexican thing, Lugo said, some places just said no right away, and they gave me a weird look.. RELATED: Devin Booker wins season-long NBA Community Assist Award for local outreach, I knew that he was going to take us far.. Family has always been first and foremost in Bookers life and seeing that embracement of family values within the Hispanic community has only helped Booker admire and connect to his ancestry. It was all his decision, Melvin Booker said. I'm sick of hearing this kind of bullshit misinformation get spread by brainless cretins that, frankly, I'm surprised could even type on their keyboard. He averaged 13.8 points per game. This city deserves it, Booker said. US former first children today He's. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. To see it turn out the way it turned, the process is quicker than he expected and now to see him having the success hes having on this level is amazing. That's something that's been with me in my blood since birth.. While Devin grew up, his fathers lifestyle influenced him greatly. Slowly but surely, though, Bookers awareness ofand appreciation forthe culture around him has become more evident. His grandfather was born in Los Nogales, Mexico, right near the Texas border. He would say, So you want me to practice for two hours and then you want to do more stuff? I said, Thats what you need to be great. I kind of knew he didnt have an idea, so thats when he came to me.. Booker is aware that representing the Hispanic community in the NBA carries some pressure and is fully embracing the opportunity to prove that with a focused mindset and a strong work ethic, anything is possible no matter what race or nationality. Melvin is African-American and Veronica is Puerto-Rican and Mexican American. The law was eventually partially struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, but the situation in the state is still contentious. If you just acknowledge it from that perspective, then, then maybe it is OK to make it a bigger deal.. She made it happen. Melvin Booker was the epitome of cool when his son was selected, but inside the emotions were high. Booker also won a gold medal on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo. After his freshman year, he joined six Kentucky teammates by entering the 2015 NBA draft. Devin Booker, however, said much of his improvement as a basketball player at Moss Point came from the knowledge of the game his dad shared daily. Of course, her being my mother, she said, Just let me know when [youre] coming back. With Devin Booker falling in love with basketball as a child, he had an easy role model to follow in his father. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, 5 takeaways from Durant's debut with Suns, Durant expected to make Suns debut tonight, David Benner, Pacers longtime PR director, dies, NBA DFS Picks: Yahoo plays & strategy for March 1, Kia Rookie Ladder: State of chase after All-Star, NBA DraftKings & FanDuel DFS Primer Wednesday 3/1. Playing in Russia with the time difference it would be 3 in the morning there and the middle of the day for us. Melvin Booker also thought the fast-paced, trash-talking and tough style of basketball would make his son better, too. From 1997-2008, Melvin Booker made a living playing most notably in Italy with stints in Turkey and Russia. Someone taking pride in their culture and background is always something that we try to teach kids as well, so thats a learning experience for them and it definitely increases fandom for Latinos in general just because its someone representing their culture and our people.. After having Devin in 1996, she was often the one to. Moreover, Devin has always appreciated this fact since being drafted by Phoenix . I think growing up, were usually in one part of the country, one region, the Midwest, West Coast kids, or from the south. The two hit it off, and a year later, Devin was born. The 2014 McDonalds All-American selection averaged 30.9 points per game in his senior season. In a game against the Sacramento Kings in January 2016, Devin scored a season-high 21 points. After the passing of his grandfather, Booker made it an emphasis to get intact with his heritage and the surrounding Valley community gave him the perfect environment to do so. Noticing his immense talent, Melvin tried hard to bring his son back to Mississippi permanently. If you're Mexican and you made it to the NBA, I can too, Booker said. Booker was raised by Gutierrez, a cosmetologist, in the predominantly white suburb of Grandville but spent his summers in a poorer, mostly African-American, inner-city setting in Moss Point, Miss., with his father, Melvin. Everywhere we went, everyone knew him. On multiple occasions he has referenced the cultures strong family ties, something he has inherited and embraced in his own life. The 6-foot-1 point guard was a consensus 1994 Associated Press second-team All-America selection at Mizzou. Hikaru has been surpassed for the number one spot on Chess.com's Blitz global leaderboard. Hed let them have the seats he got in his contract and then try to help them fall in love with Booker. Welcome to r/nbacirclejerk, where we offer only the most le epic XD discussions on le interwebz :p, Press J to jump to the feed. His voice rings into his microphone as Booker hits a tough shot, which Ochoa describes in detail before punctuating the play with his go-to description for the Suns star: El hombre con herencia hispana! The man with Hispanic heritage. Devin, a three-time NBA All-Star, is a professional . Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. Kobe wrote the same message on the KOBE XI PEs he gave Book in 2016 , (via @DevinBook, h/t Sneakercenter/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/D1jgnhcPXs, Peer approval: Bookers arrival as a star may have been a foregone conclusion. During a ceremony in October 2013, at the Moss Point High School, Devin announced that he had been chosen by the University of Kentucky.. Sometimes I would call and ask him, What did you do after practice? It wasnt long ago that the radio broadcaster was calling games in Spanish for a 19-win team in a nearly empty building. In a. Playoff ready: Any questions about how Bookers scoring would translate to the postseason were answered swiftly. He was the 1994 Big Eight Player of the Year and after impressing on the court, he was elected to the intercollegiate athletics Hall of Fame at theUniversity of Missouri. As Ochoa puts it, if nine out of 10 Latinos are at least casual Suns fans, then seven out of those nine know that Booker has Mexican background. Davon lives a single life. His maternal grandfather was born in Mexico but migrated to Michigan. Its unheard of for a player of the year in his conference and a second-team All-American to go undrafted for reasons I dont even know today. And it turned around. Some of my favorite times as a child was my mom whipping up her original Mexican dishes that she learned from her father, or when we got the chance to visit my grandpa on the weekends in his city and having him cook for us, Booker told Suns.com. But it was also quite challenging to build a relationship with his son from afar despite a couple of visits overseas. So good, it should come with a spoiler alert. Booker had never visited his grandfathers country until his job with the Phoenix Suns took him to Mexico City for two games in January 2017, where the then-unheralded second-year shooting guard torched the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs for back-to-back 39-point games. Let these kids know that, especially with the NBA today, it's not one race. I always say Im fortunate enough to live around it, see it around the stands, and see it around the city. The elder Booker was the 1994 Big Eight Player of the Year at the University of Missouri and a former professional basketball player. 3. I think the moment everybody found out that I had Mexican in my bloodline, I got on social media and started seeing younger kids of the Hispanic descent reaching out to me and saying, Youre my favorite player. Who Is Melvin Booker? A Draft lottery pick in 2015, Devin Booker has elevated himself from No. Phoenixs diversity hasnt made it immune from Arizonas complicated relationship with Latinos (especially those who have immigrated to the country). Im definitely going to rep that side of my heritage, always., (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images). Theres so much to learn about the Mexican culture, but Devin Booker says its never too late. After Devins birth, they decided that they would both take care of Devin, but he mostly stayed with his mother, as his father remained busy with his international basketball career. Devin visited his father during his summer holidays, in Moss Point, Mississippi, a place that had a significant black population. Its hard to put into words how proud I am, it really is. Melvin Booker got to break a sweat on a few NBA teams but mostly played overseas in Turkey, Russia and Italy. The respect I received from my family and everyone in the city made me want to stay. After having Devin in 1996, she was often the one to spend time with him when Melvin traveled in different countries for his professional basketball career. One of them shows the elder Booker then playing for the Golden State Warriors driving against, you guessed it, the Phoenix Suns. That was the same night former Suns great and Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash saw his name and likeness enshrined in the franchises Ring of Honor at halftime. I was fortunate enough to have a dad that was basically a blueprint for me, Devin said. College basketball was to play a crucial role in shaping Devins future as a star basketball player. But now that Im a professional and Ive been around this lifestyle, I understand how hard it is. I dont know if its because he has Mexican blood, but he has a special charisma that translates without any words being exchanged and translates in his game because he always plays passionately. Devin Booker is rumored to be dating Kendell Jenner. 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