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. 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. It wasnt long ago that the radio broadcaster was calling games in Spanish for a 19-win team in a nearly empty building. Bookers former coach in Phoenix, Earl Watson, shares a similar background with his maternal grandparents hailing from Mexico. Maybe they didn't though, maybe they just smashed their sweaty, ugly, greasy, zit-covered faces all over their . Ever since he was 8 months old he was coming with me in the summertime. I got to see the guys like Michael Jordan play up close, Melvin Booker said. Melvin Booker played in the American minor leagues for the Hartford Hellcats and Pittsburgh Piranhas and had two stints with Grand Rapids. Devin played basketball with his dad and his friends. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, INTERACTIVE RADAR: Tracking winter storm in Arizona. Melvin Booker also thought the fast-paced, trash-talking and tough style of basketball would make his son better, too. Broadway_Baller 6 days ago. Ayton also had 11 rebounds. Off the bench: Bookers star status was built on a bench players foundation in college. 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. 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.. 1.4K. The 6-foot-1 point guard was a consensus 1994 Associated Press second-team All-America selection at Mizzou. The Suns just in general, the whole Valley is behind the Suns, said Beltran. Like father, like son, Melvin was also a basketball player at the University of Missouri. Especially with him embracing it, I mean, it brings us more attention toojust knowing that hes Hispanic and hes not afraid to show it.. But I had many conversations with my dad. But once I got there, they embraced me, they took me in and I ended up getting more intact with that side of my family also, my dads side, it was a really important time., Looking back, Booker believes the diversity of his upbringing has made him more relatable to people and teammates of different backgrounds. Its very surreal. RELATED: Devin Booker wins season-long NBA Community Assist Award for local outreach, I knew that he was going to take us far.. Phoenix didnt do well in his honor, losing to Dallas 111-95, but Booker provided an intriguing silver lining. He died aged 67. Melvin Booker, however, believed that Moss Point High would benefit from his sons presence on and off the court. I was with my family back home. Macias has seen Mexican-influenced murals of Booker and the Suns pop up around the city, including one the Suns commissioned with Los Suns jerseys and players painted as Dia de los Muertosstyle skeletons. 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. 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. Those three years with his father helped Devin land at a national powerhouse in Kentucky but also exposed him to an environment much different than hed been accustomed to Michigan. The supermodel enjoyed a trip to Mississippi with the NBA player where she was introduced to some of his hometown roots. In April 2015, Devin decided to let go of the remaining years of college and signed up for the NBA draft. Imagine the pride of having your team have a guy score 40 points in a playoff game, and he has Latino blood? Melvin Booker also thought the fast-paced, trash-talking and tough style of basketball would make his . As a father, hed do anything I wanted to do. Four seasons later, Booker became the Suns first All-Star since Nash. Devin initially refused to go to Mississippi. A shooting guard, Booker received a star status after being the 13th overall draft and being selected by Phoenix Suns. These fans might have not been at the game, but that didnt mean they couldnt keep the party going after. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devins father and grandfather also attended the high school. You know the stories about the light-skinned, biracial kid, are they tough enough? He went on to play in the NBA for the Houston Rockets during the 1995-1996 season and the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors during the 1996-1997 season. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Jarred Vanderbilt is Devin Booker's grandfather. Im around [Latino culture] every day, Booker said the day after winning Game 1 of the Finals. The 13-time All-Star, who was dealt to Phoenix on Feb. 9, has not played in a game since Jan. 8 when he was with the Nets. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would be much taller than him. 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. Like Devin, Melvin spent many years as a professional basketball player. Hollywood Life, Latest Hollywood Celebrity & Entertainment News. Paolo Banchero leads the way as the Kia Rookie of the Year chase begins to head for the finish line. The 2014 McDonalds All-American selection averaged 30.9 points per game in his senior season. I think when youre young, you dont really understand it that much. Eventually, Melvin ended his career to return home to coach his high school team and focus on his son. His father was a brilliant young NBA player when he met Veronica during on one of his tours for the Continental Basketball Association.. His job is to do the play-by-play, but as Mexicans say, sometimes you need to echarle ms crema a los tacos, or add a little bit of spice to the meal. After being cut by the Atlanta Hawks in training camp, Booker played five games with the Denver Nuggets and 16 games with the Golden State Warriors during the 1996-97 season. 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. It's Los Suns for a reason, right? Most people have been doing that all their kids life. 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. It took a lot of persuading for former NBA player Melvin Booker to get his son to move to Mississippi away from his mom to best aid his hoop dream. Media reports claim that while in college, he had had many affairs. Latin-American ambassador: Booker's maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico, a fact Booker has grown to. Hes learning a lot. Devin ended the season with an average of 22.1 points per game. Weve already felt the need to defend him for five or six years, because of the trajectory of his career and the way he was talked about early on, Vigil said. Booker has said that before he was drafted by Phoenix in 2015, he hadnt really been able to connect with his Mexican roots. Devin had the kind of relationship with him that was distant but you always knew he was there, Bookers mother wrote in an email. A mural, commissioned by the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center and painted by 17 artists, spans a city block and features everything from portraits of Selena, Cesar Chavez, and Carlos Santana to mariachi-playing skeletons and bright red lowriders. 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. Sometimes I would call and ask him, What did you do after practice? Only two photos of him exist in the leagues Getty/NBAE archives. He spent the summers with his father in the latters hometown of Moss Point, Mississippi, a predominantly black town with around 13,000 people that also had its share of crime and poverty issues. While Devin grew up, his fathers lifestyle influenced him greatly. He taught his son to shoot with the correct form. Me knowing Devin, hes going to continue to work hard and continue to try to get better.. 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. Finding a place that was willing to make the flag, however, proved more difficult. That was the only reason I put Devin there. That was simple enough: Lugo knew he wanted Bookers face on a prayer candle, and a Suns logo with the traditional green, red, and white tricolor design. But there was always a connection, a warmth, pleasantries, between the two. Its something thats not too late to learn because, at the end of the day, this is what makes up me, said Booker. Devin certainly considered it, but didnt give up and it eventually worked out very well. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. His maternal grandfather hails from Mexico. Its hard to put into words how proud I am, it really is. Hed play video games with me. My relationship with my grandfather was unbelievable, Booker said. Thanks, Pops: Bookers father, Melvin Booker, played professionally from 1994-2008, including for two seasons and three different NBA teams (Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors). Those weekend visits growing up came flashing back to Booker two years ago, when his grandfather passed away. Melvin Booker of the Missouri Tigers dribbles the court during a game against the Kansas Jayhawks. I think its a combination of growing older and being exposed to more culture, Gutierrez wrote. When I saw that, I said he looks like one of my own uncles growing up, Vigil said. I think I gained kind of a following there.. PHOENIX Phoenix Suns' number one player Devin Booker is an inspiration to many people, but here in the Valley of the Sun, Booker has added a special moment of pride to the Latino community. 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. 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. And many other local fans feel similarly. The son of former basketball player Melvin Booker, [3] Devin is a three-time NBA All-Star and helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals 2021. If you count him as a Mexican, which Im going to do and I think a lot of us will, hes the best Mexican basketball player ever, said Mike Vigil, a third-generation Mexican American who hosts a Suns podcast called The Timeline. Something went wrong. But getting to the age that Im at now, understanding how important that is, thats a part of me, something that Im growing to realize. Davon is the eldest brother of an American basketball player Devin Booker who plays for Phoenix Suns. Devins mother is Victoria Gutirrez, a Mexican-American who has two other children. Devin quickly became a very good shooter and continued to grow to 6-foot-6. 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. Watson is half-Mexican, from his mothers side, and, according to Ochoa, was always proud of that fact. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. The Latino community says they will stand behind him. Im ready for you. But I stayed because of the mindset I had my whole life was just never giving up. Booker and Phoenix are starting to build the kind of rare star-city relationship thats been most recently seen between Stephen Curry and the Bay Area. In August 2011, Devin scored 17 points in the fifth game of the season, against Gulfport High School. His score was higher than the rest of his team combined. The Suns are back in Mexico City this weekend to take on the Spurs again but the team and Booker are in different places. Thats changed after his years in the cityas has the place he holds in many Latino Suns fans hearts. He made his professional NBA debut against the Dallas Mavericks two days before his 19th birthday. Devin was born to Melvin Booker and Veronica Gutierrez on 30th October 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "I'm not going to say it's easy, there's going to be a lot of ups and downs, but just knowing it's possible. Melvin is African-American and Veronica is Puerto-Rican and Mexican American. A Draft lottery pick in 2015, Devin Booker has elevated himself from No. Ochoa said the data shows that people are listening to his broadcasts on the other side of the border, and the Suns organization has tried to connect with the Latino community, too, sending basketballs and uniforms to kids in Sonora while also continuing to make and sell the Los Suns jerseys that were part of the Noche Latina collection that the league created for cities with large Latino populations. His mom even has the same last name as us: Gutirrez.. Rounding out his collection is a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS finished in black cherry. With this, he became the third player in NBA history to achieve the feat. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/devin-booker-37685.php. Melvin Booker continued to try to sell Devin and his mother on the idea that if his son was serious about becoming a basketball star, he should move with him to Mississippi and that he could keep in touch back home via text and FaceTime. Also, being the support for your family and being the backbone of your family and how important that is.. Dad was also an assistant coach on his sons high school and AAU team. Maybe its my Mexican roots, Booker said with a smile when he was asked how he was able to put up 39 points in back-to-back games there. It was better for my life.. The Suns, including owner Robert Sarver, spoke out against the bill and wore their Los Suns jerseys in solidarity with the community. For her to allow it to happen is unbelievable.. He began his standout basketball career at Moss Point High School . They decided to forgo. The lack of representation within the league has encouraged Booker to carry the mantle for people of Mexican heritage. Id do anything for them. Devin Booker hasnt disappointed. 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. The only real time with communication I had with him were the two to three months out of the year when I would go down to Mississippi [in the summer]. Its helped me out a lot, he said. 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. Ive been here, putting my head down, grinding, you know, these past five years, trying to get to this point, to at least give them competitive basketball. And for those who are fans already, well, its as Ochoa would say, cereza encima del pastel. Cherry on top of the cake. My Mexican culture has taught me a lot about myself. Now, Booker routinely quizzes his mother on their family history, hoping that she shares some knowledge on his past that can inspire his future. When the same thing happened in 2021, LeBron James, via social media, proclaimed Booker the most disrespected player in our league., Devin Booker pours in 47 points in Game 6 win. I dont think a lot of people understand how somebody from Alabama or Mississippi was raised. That would spark even more pride when I would tell them, and theyd end up buying his jersey.. Booker has this charisma that people connect with, Ochoa said. He always helped my mom out when she was in need, which was really important for me. Booker 's parents met while father Melvin played semi-professional basketball for the local. Beginning his career as a sportswriter, Benner then served with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season. With Booker being Hispanic, I think it just opens the eyes to our culture around our Hispanic heritage, Lugo said. They played video games together. 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. A few print shops didnt have the right material, and some just outright refused to do it. And hes been loyal. It means a lot to me. 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 said. Before his senior season, Devin narrowed his final college choices to his dads alma mater, Missouri, as well as Michigan, Michigan State, and Kentucky. 204. With his fathers influence, Devin naturally fell in love with the game of basketball as a child. When I was drafted by Phoenix, I finally got to see the Hispanic culture around me for the first time in my life, Booker said. Everything we did was competitive, Devin Booker said. Booker is introduced last among the starters during Suns games; he gets the loudest cheers, and his jerseys are ubiquitous. The relationship foundered after Devin's birth, and Veronica raised their son as a single mom while Melvin played international basketball in Europe. She just always talked about his character and how loving he was, and just how he was the backbone of the family.. In a March 2018 game against Oklahoma City Thunder, he scored 39 points. I felt like and thought I would be drafted. They worked out on the court together. LoWE11053211 21 days ago. 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. . But now that Im a professional and Ive been around this lifestyle, I understand how hard it is. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. We feel like we have to go even more above and beyond to get him the proper respect that we believe he deserves.. Hes from a suburban, predominantly white town, Melvin Booker told The Undefeated. The city I grew up in and the high school was predominantly black. I see that as a wink to us because I think he knows thats how we dress. Down to just people saying Kobe when they shoot a piece of trash in the garbage. Who are Devin Booker's parents? Mya supports her brother during the matches and is an inspiration to Devin. Being here in Phoenix has made me aware of living in the culture.. Devin Booker was born to play basketball as his father is a former professional basketball player. Devin Booker remembers hopping in the car with his mother, Veronica Gutierrez, as she took a more than two-hour drive from their home in the suburbs of Grand Rapids, Mich., to Detroit to spend time with his Papa. Read Kevin OConnors grades of every first-round pick. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. I think this is a beautiful time to embrace our culture and love it with a passion, Devin Booker said. I dont look back on that. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads. He also taught his son some tricks of the trade he developed on the pro level. The Phoenix Suns 2015 first road draft pick Devin Booker poses for a portrait on June 26, 2015 at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. It was special. Im definitely going to rep that side of my heritage, always., (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images). This city deserves it, Booker said. This season was to mark his fifth appearance in the competition before ultimately pulling out due to injury. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. 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. First, Lugo commissioned a graphic designer friend to mock up the design. Vigil said he didnt think that the uniforms felt like pandering; rather, it was finally merchandise that represented the largest demographic in Phoenix. Thats part of the reason I grind so much, Devin Booker said. Please enter a valid email and try again. As Booker has embraced his Latino side, those whove long followed his career have seen incremental changes to everything from the way he dresses to what he drivesmuch of which seems to be a hat tip to this culture. That Hispanic culture is seen both in the stands and throughout the fan base, but what many might not know, is that the Suns also represent Hispanic heritage on the court. In a. Hed let them have the seats he got in his contract and then try to help them fall in love with Booker. 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. Devin Bookers Dating History: All About His 2-Year Romance With Kendall Jenner & Past Loves. In the next game, Devin scored 19 points against TexasArlington to set a new season-high score. Their goal was to have it ready for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, but getting it made wasnt easy. Slowly but surely, though, Bookers awareness ofand appreciation forthe culture around him has become more evident. 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. 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. I have a very traditional tight Mexican family on my fathers side, but Devins life has pretty much been on the go with school, b-ball and summers in Mississippi. They needed the painting in five hours for a Fathers Day gift. Davon Wade works as a realtor at Linehan Real Estate. Being able to touch those types of communities in this area makes all this that much better.. No longer a pushover or punchline, Phoenix is showing a punchers chance under new coach Monty Williams most nights and is in the playoff hunt despite missing 2018 No. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devin's father and grandfather also attended the high school. A sportswriter, Benner then served with the NBA player where she was introduced some. ] every day, Booker said was raised tricks of the trade he on. J. Spears is the eldest brother of an American basketball player Devin Booker has said that before he was months. Combination of growing older and being selected by Phoenix in 2015, Devin Booker has said before... Ago that the radio broadcaster was calling games in Spanish for a reason right! Focus on his son would be drafted ; s parents was just never giving up college basketball was to a... Suns games ; he gets the loudest cheers, and his jerseys are ubiquitous ensure proper. 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