If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. If you just acknowledge it from that perspective, then, then maybe it is OK to make it a bigger deal.. Get to know the Utah Jazz's star center with these 10 interesting factoids about his life and career. Devin visited his father during his summer holidays, in Moss Point, Mississippi, a place that had a significant black population. Dad was also an assistant coach on his sons high school and AAU team. Noting Bookers Mexican heritage is part of thatbut its also a responsibility Ochoa feels on a personal level. I think all of this is even cooler because he has Mexican blood in him, and hes carrying that with him, Gerardo said while looking at a marquee that featured Booker in the center. 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. Devin Bookers Dating History: All About His 2-Year Romance With Kendall Jenner & Past Loves. At first, just being out of your comfort zone was a thing for me. With this, he became the third player in NBA history to achieve the feat. Im in a position where Im coming into now, where I understand how important it is. 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. And hes been loyal. It was better for my life.. The couple did not marry but remained on good terms. 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. 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. But Devin didnt want to leave his mom and his friends. 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. 1 / 3. The love was always there. We all had an understanding that it would be the best decision for me reaching my dreams. To the Gutirrezes, both of whom are first-generation Americans with Mexican parents, Bookers background is a source of pride. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Suns Fans Find Meaningand Connectionin Devin Booker and His Mexican Heritage, 2021 NBA Finals Reset: Five Questions That Will Decide Bucks-Suns. And for those who are fans already, well, its as Ochoa would say, cereza encima del pastel. Cherry on top of the cake. 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. She just always talked about his character and how loving he was, and just how he was the backbone of the family.. Just around the corner from the Latino Arts and Cultural Center mural in downtown Phoenix stands the actual center, which is a hub of paintings, models, and sculptures displaying different aspects of Latino culture. They played video games together. His father was a brilliant young NBA player when he met Veronica during on one of his tours for the Continental Basketball Association.. In October 2017, he scored 34 points against the Portland Trail Blazers to finish his 21st career game with 30+ points. Be Legendary: Booker admired many iconic shooting guards growing up, but Kobe Bryants game and competitive edge hold a special place in his esteem. Hes learning a lot. Gutierrez and her son said yes before his sophomore season. He made his professional NBA debut against the Dallas Mavericks two days before his 19th birthday. 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. Most of the time with breaking records and such, he leaves me speechless, she wrote. Read Kevin OConnors grades of every first-round pick. Grandville was a town that was dominated by its white population. Devin grew up in Grandville, Michigan, a predominantly white town of about 15,000 people that is a suburb of Grand Rapids. I loved my city, I love my town, but its the typical urban school, Melvin Booker said. Some of my favorite times as a child was my mom whipping up, you know, original Mexican dishes that she learned from her father or when we got the chance to visit my grandpa on the weekend.. Im around [Latino culture] every day, Booker said the day after winning Game 1 of the Finals. After splitting from Melvin, Veronica went on to have her third child, daughter Mya Powell, who reportedly has chromosome 22 deletion syndrome. 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. Just because it was a Mexican thing, Lugo said, some places just said no right away, and they gave me a weird look.. I felt like and thought I would be drafted. Media reports claim that while in college, he had had many affairs. Thats how she ended up at a Suns game a few years ago on Latino Night and found out about Bookers heritage. A shooting guard, Booker received a star status after being the 13th overall draft and being selected by Phoenix Suns. 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. The supermodel enjoyed a trip to Mississippi with the NBA player where she was introduced to some of his hometown roots. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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. Let these kids know that, especially with the NBA today, it's not one race. The idea for the flag came during an Xbox night between Lugo and his friends right after the Suns swept the Nuggets in the second round. 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. 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. He was just a really caring guy, Booker said of his grandfather in a recent telephone conversation with The Athletic. A grandfather and two granddaughters died in a DUI crash . In the next game, Devin scored 19 points against TexasArlington to set a new season-high score. 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. 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]. Davon is the eldest brother of an American basketball player Devin Booker who plays for Phoenix Suns. Devin averaged 30.9 points per game as a senior despite being double- and triple-teamed during the 2013-14 season at Moss Point. Heres a look at 10 things to know about Phoenixs standout guard, his life and his NBA career. 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. 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. Except this one is not based on just loyalty and winning, but also heritage. 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. Hes a young person, Perla said. Booker has also recently started driving old-school cars and lowriders to games. Watson is half-Mexican, from his mothers side, and, according to Ochoa, was always proud of that fact. First, Lugo commissioned a graphic designer friend to mock up the design. I think its a combination of growing older and being exposed to more culture, Gutierrez wrote. 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. 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. Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this piece incorrectly stated that Bookers grandfather was born in Nogales, Mexico; he was born in Los Nogales. Los Suns, said Richard Valdes from Phoenix. Even so, he did have some lasting memories. Who are Devin Booker's parents? 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. The relationship foundered after Devin's birth, and Veronica raised their son as a single mom while Melvin played international basketball in Europe. Every day has been a learning process for me. You know the stories about the light-skinned, biracial kid, are they tough enough? In a downtown Phoenix alley, sandwiched between two streets named after U.S. presidents, stands a snapshot of the citys Latino culture. 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. 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. 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. Oops. Now shes a diehard fan who makes a point to go to the players entrance before every game to welcome the team. Booker has said that before he was drafted by Phoenix in 2015, he hadnt really been able to connect with his Mexican roots. 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 LoWE11053211 21 days ago. Who Is Melvin Booker? Lugo, who had draped the flag around his back, was trying to get to his seats in the 200 level, but he kept getting interrupted by people asking to take a picture of the flag. Join. Devin certainly considered it, but didnt give up and it eventually worked out very well. I think this is a beautiful time to embrace our culture and love it with a passion, Devin Booker said. Off the bench: Bookers star status was built on a bench players foundation in college. Of course, a lot of this wouldnt have happened had Booker not shown a willingness to embrace his Latino roots. I was trying to make up for the times I missed when I was gone.. Kevin Durant shows no signs of rust in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new teammates. . Theyve been Suns fans since they were little and growing up in South Phoenix, and they have faint memories of the Steve Nashled teams of the mid-2000s, as well as fresher memories of the Suns drafting and building a team around Devin Booker. He became the fourth-youngest NBA player to score 1,000 points in the first season. Seeing it, I would never let him shoot another way but the correct way regardless to whether he was shooting on a big basket or a small basket, big ball, small ball, whatever. This sounds so clich, but it really hasnt set in with me. 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. His maternal grandfather was born in Mexico but migrated to Michigan. 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. Doesn't booker have more wins against luka overall? Phoenixs diversity hasnt made it immune from Arizonas complicated relationship with Latinos (especially those who have immigrated to the country). 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Thats changed after his years in the cityas has the place he holds in many Latino Suns fans hearts. 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. 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. I was fortunate enough to have a dad that was basically a blueprint for me, Devin said. 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. 3. In June 2015, he was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 13th overall pick. 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. When Booker was 20, Kevin Durant said on The Bill Simmons Podcast that he wanted the Thunder to draft Booker in 2015. But we did the best that we could.. But he said that me being drafted is better than him being drafted.. Booker would like to lean into that by learning to speak Spanish. 3-Point Contest: The league noticed Bookers shooting stroke immediately and invited its youngest player to participate in the 2016 Three-Point Contest. Who the f is this guy lmao. At this point, that community knows who he is. Even then, he still dedicated portions of his post-practice routine to footwork and shot-making on the block. Devins mother is Victoria Gutirrez, a Mexican-American who has two other children. 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. Booker 's parents met while father Melvin played semi-professional basketball for the local. 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. It's Hispanic Heritage Month. In his first seven Summer League games, Devin averaged more than 15 points per game and proved his mettle. But I had many conversations with my dad. Its hard to put into words how proud I am, it really is. This is a good life here in the NBA. It instilled more trust in him. Melvin Booker averaged 28 points as a senior at Moss Point High and signed with the University of Missouri. He finished his three-year career as the schools all-time leading scorer with 2,518 points. 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. 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. That didnt stop him from shooting 41.1% from 3-point range in the Wildcats march to the Final Four. The couple never married and cooperatively co-parented their son who was predominantly with his mother due to his dads professional basketball career. It has paid off: Booker shot 52.5% and averaged 1.08 points per post-up possessions this season, making him the 10th most efficient player in the league with at least 50 such possessions. 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. 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. He met Veronica while mining a minor-league route to the league with the Grand Rapids Mackers of the Continental Basketball Association. Going through it and playing at that level, I just told him all the pros and cons of all the schools that were recruiting him It was a decision that he was going to have to make and live with. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devins father and grandfather also attended the high school. "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. 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. 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. Post player first:Being tall for his age, Booker actually played significant minutes in the post as a kid before ultimately becoming a shooting guard. It ended up being one of the best decisions Ive ever made. Sometimes I would call and ask him, What did you do after practice? 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. CartographerBlind. 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. Hence, he became first player in the history of NBA to debut at 18 years of age, with at least one year of college basketball experience. 25. Devin Booker has Mexican roots, making his stardom even sweeter for the Valley's Latino community. 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. 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. 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. After averaging at least 25 points over the last four seasons, he averaged 29.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 5.0 apg while shooting 48.8% overall and 42.9% from 3-point range in his playoff debut and Phoenixs 4-2 series victory against the Lakers the franchises first series win since 2010. Isael Lugo didnt get 20 feet inside Phoenix Suns Arena before he was stopped last week. 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. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 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. NoseBlind2 22 days ago. 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 reportedly worked as a cosmetologist and already had a son named Davon Wade when she met Devins father in her hometown of Grand Rapids. 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.. He is not living through me. The respect I received from my family and everyone in the city made me want to stay. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. He believed that his relationship with his son would grow, too, if he finally had him by his side. Booker is the son of Veronica Gutierrez and Melvin Booker. and people say this sub is not woke enough. 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. Being able to touch those types of communities in this area makes all this that much better, said Booker. 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. In February 2017, he scored 31 points against the Milwaukee Bucks and became the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 20 points in 16 consecutive games. 9. College basketball was to play a crucial role in shaping Devins future as a star basketball player. From influencing his love of basketball, to showing him how to build a strong relationship, his folks are definitely a part of his success story. 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. My journey and my path, I hope it opens up something in their minds to let them know that they're capable of doing exactly what I've done, Booker said. Devin and Mya have become very close over the years and hes often seen sharing sweet moments with her. Their goal was to have it ready for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, but getting it made wasnt easy. I think that had a lot to do with being around people like that for the first time. Moreover, Devin has always appreciated this fact since being drafted by Phoenix . At just 20 years old, Devin Booker became the youngest NBA player to record a 70-point game. The 2014 McDonalds All-American selection averaged 30.9 points per game in his senior season. That's something that's been with me in my blood since birth.. Booker is now able to reflect on some of his most memorable moments growing up, many of which share close Mexican ties with his family. If youre lucky, you might see one of the artists working on a piece when you visit. 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