Gutierrez allowed Booker, then 12, to visit his father one spring break in Milan, where the son played one-on-one with a future pro in Danilo Gallinari and showed the potential of being a special player. 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. 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. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. 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. 204. Devin Booker, 25, has made quite the impression on the basketball court as part of the Phoenix Suns, and it seems his skill and hard work runs in the family. The law was eventually partially struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, but the situation in the state is still contentious. Its a feeling like no other. The player has confronted that culture's strong family ties are the ones he had always embraced and inherited in his life. 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. Letting Devin leave Michigan was by far the hardest decision of my life. So hes won the people of Phoenix over, especially the Latino community.. I think I gained kind of a following there.. If you have a dream and you have the work ethic to match that dream, anything is possible.. Im in the middle of it right now, Im not trying to get too excited but playing competitive basketball is something thats keeping me going right now., Gutierrez doesnt want Booker to feel any pressure to do any more than he already is. When I was a kid, I was always on the go, either outside playing basketball or something, so when it was time when my mom wanted to go to the other side of Michigan to hang with my Mexican side of the family, it wasnt really a priority for me. In a March 2018 game against Oklahoma City Thunder, he scored 39 points. 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. But Devin didnt want to leave his mom and his friends. The respect I received from my family and everyone in the city made me want to stay. Symbolic start: After being drafted 13th overall, Bookers NBA debut took place in Phoenix on Oct. 28, 2015. She reportedly worked as a cosmetologist and already had a son named Davon Wade when she met Devins father in her hometown of Grand Rapids. He taught his son to shoot with the correct form. Melvin Booker, however, believed that Moss Point High would benefit from his sons presence on and off the court. Ayton also had 11 rebounds. He's a former NBA player himself, born on August 20, 1972, and is the reason Devin is the star he is today. Sometimes I would go up to [Michigan] to watch him. But Booker says it was here in Phoenix where he first experienced the Mexican culture. In a November match against Montana State, Devin scored a season-high 18 points. Ever since he was 8 months old he was coming with me in the summertime. She just always talked about his character and how loving he was, and just how he was the backbone of the family.. In October 2017, he scored 34 points against the Portland Trail Blazers to finish his 21st career game with 30+ points. I shared a locker room with [Hakeem] Olajuwon, [Clyde] Drexler and Sam Cassell.. It was his mother, Veronica Gutierrez's hometown, and his father, Melvin Booker, who played for CBA's Grand Rapids Hoops. Watched sports together. Devin Booker was the leading offensive force on the Phoenix Suns and led them to their first appearance in the Finals since 1993. Down to just people saying Kobe when they shoot a piece of trash in the garbage. Luka Doncic's father, Devin Booker's grandfather, attended his first Mavericks game tonight . With Devin Booker falling in love with basketball as a child, he had an easy role model to follow in his father. He is the only child of former professional basketball star Melvin Booker, who is Devin's father. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. But living around it and the culture and getting to see it day to day is a lot better. 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. In a. Those were the most enjoyable moments - just sitting down, family time and enjoying some really good food.. Oops. 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. Devin and Mya have become very close over the years and hes often seen sharing sweet moments with her. But there was always a connection, a warmth, pleasantries, between the two. They decided to forgo. Imagine the pride of having your team have a guy score 40 points in a playoff game, and he has Latino blood? 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 more Booker researched his Hispanic background, the more he saw the similarities between his own ideals and the Mexican heritage within his bloodline. Id do anything for them. Latino fans, in particular, lit up when they saw it. I still have mixed feelings about it, Gutierrez wrote. 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. The undersized point guard was stunned as he went undrafted. Bookers former coach in Phoenix, Earl Watson, shares a similar background with his maternal grandparents hailing from Mexico. Get to know the Utah Jazz's star center with these 10 interesting factoids about his life and career. From his seat inside a suite at Phoenix Suns Arena, Arturo Ochoa can barely hear himself think. Isael Lugo didnt get 20 feet inside Phoenix Suns Arena before he was stopped last week. 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. Now, shes his biggest fan. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devins father and grandfather also attended the high school. As Booker has become more outspoken about his heritage, he has begun to see the younger Hispanic community embrace him as an inspiration and reach out to him to show their support and admiration. Of course, her being my mother, she said, Just let me know when [youre] coming back. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Were proud of him and knowing that hes also of the same heritage, Mexicano, you add some extra cheering, said Elena Beltran. It wasnt an easy move for a teenager who only knew suburban life to switch to an urban environment at a high school where his dad was a star. Ever since [Devin] was 8 months old, he was coming with me in the summertime. I think growing up, were usually in one part of the country, one region, the Midwest, West Coast kids, or from the south. Not that there's anything wrong with that. You have the same issues and same problems you have at most urban schools. Booker has also recently started driving old-school cars and lowriders to games. 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. For sure, Booker said. The elder Booker was the 1994 Big Eight Player of the Year at the University of Missouri and a former professional basketball player. 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. Doesn't booker have more wins against luka overall? If youre lucky, you might see one of the artists working on a piece when you visit. 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. One of them shows the elder Booker then playing for the Golden State Warriors driving against, you guessed it, the Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker, 70 points - March 24, 2017. Booker would like to lean into that by learning to speak Spanish. Booker has come to embrace the Mexican side of his family as the support of the Valleys culture has driven him to educate himself more on his familys background and learn more about his lineage. I think that had a lot to do with being around people like that for the first time. Booker, not knowing Spanish, wasnt as comfortable sharing that side of himself until Watson encouraged him to. In the 1990s, Latinos made up just 20 percent of Phoenixs population. In April 2015, Devin decided to let go of the remaining years of college and signed up for the NBA draft. RELATED: Devin Booker wins season-long NBA Community Assist Award for local outreach, I knew that he was going to take us far.. Devin played basketball with his dad and his friends. I havent gotten around to it yet, but thats the goal. Devin Booker was born to play basketball as his father is a former professional basketball player. Devin Bookers Dating History: All About His 2-Year Romance With Kendall Jenner & Past Loves. 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. Melvin is African-American and Veronica is Puerto-Rican and Mexican American. Just because it was a Mexican thing, Lugo said, some places just said no right away, and they gave me a weird look.. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Everyone wants to see a little bit of themselves in the athletes that theyre watching on TV, Vigil said. They worked out on the court together. Getting the tacos, like for realnot the ones in Michigan, not the ones in Missouri. 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. 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. 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.. So, that's my job.. His father was a brilliant young NBA player when he met Veronica during on one of his tours for the Continental Basketball Association.. "I usually keep it Chevy, you know . Devin Booker got "Be Legendary" tatted on him. 1.4K. Me knowing Devin, hes going to continue to work hard and continue to try to get better.. 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. 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. So, just trying to inspire in that type of way and keep representing the heritage. 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. READ MORE: D-I-S-R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Widespread appreciation grows for Devin Booker after regular season indifference. Devin Booker said he owes his mom the world for allowing him to depart to Mississippi and primarily raising him beforehand. 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. As a father, hed do anything I wanted to do. His grandfather was born in Los Nogales, Mexico, right near the Texas border. Los Suns, said Richard Valdes from Phoenix. This city deserves it, Booker said. And I think for Latino kids, its probably a little bit easier to envision themselves as Devin Booker.. With his mom and dad sitting next to him in the 2015 NBA draft green room, Devin was selected with the 13th overall pick by the Suns last year. When I saw that, I said he looks like one of my own uncles growing up, Vigil said. His maternal grandfather hails from Mexico. During the 1995-96 season with Grand Rapids, the basketball player met a remarkable young woman named Veronica. Slowly but surely, though, Bookers awareness ofand appreciation forthe culture around him has become more evident. Its hard to put into words how proud I am, it really is. With this, he became the third player in NBA history to achieve the feat. Booker's grandfather immigrated from Nogales, Mexico, to Michigan where the 2020 All-Star ultimately grew up. . Devin Booker was born on 30th October 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Melvin Booker and Veronica Gutierrez. Media reports claim that while in college, he had had many affairs. Devin once ran into controversy when he asked a fans girlfriend to sit on his lap. Its something thats not too late to learn because, at the end of the day, this is what makes up me, said Booker. But he said that me being drafted is better than him being drafted.. Being here in Phoenix has made me aware of living in the culture.. Luka Doncic is Devin Booker father. His completed his first season at the university with an average of 10 points and was sure about earning a respectable place in the NBA draft which was just around the corner. Its not one culture.. He is not living through me. The couple did not marry but remained on good terms. Devin quickly became a very good shooter and continued to grow to 6-foot-6. A shooting guard, Booker received a star status after being the 13th overall draft and being selected by Phoenix Suns. I am a very proud father and I know my son is living his dream. 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. Devin grew up in Grandville, Michigan, a predominantly white town of about 15,000 people that is a suburb of Grand Rapids. After splitting from Melvin, Veronica went on to have her third child, daughter Mya Powell, who reportedly has chromosome 22 deletion syndrome. Mya supports her brother during the matches and is an inspiration to Devin. If youre Mexican and you made it to the NBA, I can too, So, just trying to inspire in that type of way and keep representing the heritage. 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. Devin spent his early years in Grandville, Michigan, which was a suburb of Grand Rapids. Four seasons later, Booker became the Suns first All-Star since Nash. Bookers grandfather immigrated from Nogales, Mexico, to Michigan where the 2020 All-Star ultimately grew up. While going back to Michigan did get strong consideration, Devin Bookers perseverance not only led to an NBA career but also a close bond with father. While Devin grew up, his fathers lifestyle influenced him greatly. Devin Booker was born on October 30, 1996, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Hes from a suburban, predominantly white town, Melvin Booker told The Undefeated. Ahead of Game 6 of the Lakers series, Booker drove a Grand National to Staples Center. Devin Booker's sister, Mya Powell, has always been in the limelight for her bond with the NBA player. I owe her all the credit for allowing that to happen. She reportedly worked as a cosmetologist and already had a son named Davon Wade when she met Devin's father in her hometown of Grand Rapids. On multiple occasions he has referenced the cultures strong family ties, something he has inherited and embraced in his own life. Hes a young person, Perla said. It felt like a neutral game, but by the time we left after the second game, it definitely felt like home, Booker said of the breakout performances that merely set the stage for a 70-point effort the most scored in an NBA game since Kobe Bryants 81 in 2006 in Boston two months later. One even stopped behind it and crossed himself. Moss Point wasnt suburban Grand Rapids where Devin grew up. As the Valleys oldest and most historic professional sports team, the Phoenix Suns have continuously strived to represent and connect with the surrounding Hispanic community that makes up the largest demographic in Phoenix. 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. Melvin Booker also thought the fast-paced, trash-talking and tough style of basketball would make his . Ive talked to my teammate Tyler Johnson about it. And once he did, Ochoa noticed Booker became more comfortable discussing it publicly, like he did when the Suns played in Mexico City in January 2017. 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. The following season, he was named to the All-NBA First Team and helped lead the Suns to a franchise record of 64 wins. But we did the best that we could.. His dad couldnt be prouder. Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. My favorite part about being Mexican is the culture and being a part of the heritage, Booker said. My draft night was one of the worst nights ever, Melvin Booker said. The love was always there. 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. Veronica is a Mexican-American and her father was born in Mexico. Melvin Booker averaged 28 points as a senior at Moss Point High and signed with the University of Missouri. I had to convince them that he had to move to Mississippi if he wanted to move to that next level, Melvin Booker said. Im definitely going to rep that side of my heritage, always., (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images). That was what made me. Music booms through two speakers as a DJ and a hype man practice their lines, but the area is virtually deserted. Im ready for you. But I stayed because of the mindset I had my whole life was just never giving up. Even after having a really long playoff run, Devin Booker wasn't . I was fortunate enough to have a dad that was basically a blueprint for me, Devin said. Other Latinos dream of bringing Booker home for dinner to introduce him to their most favorite Mexican dishes. Sometimes I would call and ask him, What did you do after practice? Who Is Melvin Booker? He ended up at the fourth spot in the race for the 2016 Rookie of the Year award. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, INTERACTIVE RADAR: Tracking winter storm in Arizona. Read Kevin OConnors grades of every first-round pick. While the first part of his debut season with the Phoenix Suns was above average at best, the second part turned out to be much better. "She wanted to meet Book," Suns coach Monty Williams said. Like Devin, Melvin spent many years as a professional basketball player. Spin: Booker led the Suns in . It takes a powerful woman to do that. I guess he has 2 dads. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. It means a lot to me. College basketball was to play a crucial role in shaping Devins future as a star basketball player. 9. He found a role model in his father and started practicing basketball in school. Growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, you don't get as much of it, besides the time that I spent with my grandpa and my mother, what she's passed down to us. That was the only reason I put Devin there. Mac McClung checking his new followers. Devin Booker scored 24 points, Deandre Ayton had 22 and Chris Paul added 18 for Phoenix. 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. I have a five-year goal thats definitely on there, Booker said. Its helped me out a lot, he said. Booker was always aware of his Mexican heritage but never felt a strong desire to delve into that side of his background until he lost his Papa. My relationship with my grandfather was unbelievable, Booker said. 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. Playing in Russia with the time difference it would be 3 in the morning there and the middle of the day for us. Booker had never visited his grandfather's 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. In a downtown Phoenix alley, sandwiched between two streets named after U.S. presidents, stands a snapshot of the citys Latino culture. But now, Ochoa is almost levitating as he calls an NBA Finals game surrounded by a deafening crowd. 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, 'You're my favorite player. In his first seven Summer League games, Devin averaged more than 15 points per game and proved his mettle. Hes learning a lot. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. He always shot with the perfect form, Melvin Booker said. Most of the time with breaking records and such, he leaves me speechless, she wrote. Kevin Durant shows no signs of rust in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new teammates. At the end of the day, hes my thoughtful, caring, giving, lovable, funny, charming son., The NBA has only had four players come directly from Mexico Horacio Llamos, Eduardo Najera, Jorge Gutierrez and Gustavo Ayon. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would grow as a person from being at a school where most students didnt have his blessings. Gutierrez and her son said yes before his sophomore season. To capitalize on his popularity after those performances, Booker worked out deals with Nike and Zucaritas, the Mexican version of Frosted Flakes, to make a few return trips. I remember dropping him off at school that day and staying about an hour to make sure he had his classes scheduled correct. Eventually, Melvin ended his career to return home to coach his high school team and focus on his son. This proved to be a significant culture shock for young Devin, but he handled it quite well. I felt like and thought I would be drafted. 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. In January 2017, he scored 39 points against both the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. With that, he became the youngest player in NBA history to score 39 points in two consecutive games. Noticing his immense talent, Melvin tried hard to bring his son back to Mississippi permanently. Noting Bookers Mexican heritage is part of thatbut its also a responsibility Ochoa feels on a personal level. 3. Booker has said in the past that this has been much easier for him to do in Phoenix, a city with a population. He met Veronica while mining a minor-league route to the league with the Grand Rapids Mackers of the Continental Basketball Association. 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. Now, Booker routinely quizzes his mother on their family history, hoping that she shares some knowledge on his past that can inspire his future. If you're Mexican and you made it to the NBA, I can too, Booker said. But now that Im a professional and Ive been around this lifestyle, I understand how hard it is. 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. The 6-foot-1 point guard was a consensus 1994 Associated Press second-team All-America selection at Mizzou. 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. He averaged 13.8 points per game. And Booker is no longer a youngster trying to prove he belongs in the league; he has the nine-figure contract befitting a franchise cornerstone and is playing at a level that could find him making his first All-Star team. Me, Devin decided to let go of the heritage watching on TV, Vigil.. Tough style of basketball would make his Will Find their own way, INTERACTIVE RADAR: Tracking winter storm Arizona. 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