But we did the best that we could.. So, that's my job.. Im definitely going to rep that side of my heritage, always., (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images). Its definitely something that I want to do. Devin Bookers Dating History: All About His 2-Year Romance With Kendall Jenner & Past Loves. The supermodel enjoyed a trip to Mississippi with the NBA player where she was introduced to some of his hometown roots. This season was to mark his fifth appearance in the competition before ultimately pulling out due to injury. By Vrushali Padia Published Mar 19, 2022. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Booker is the son of Veronica Gutierrez and Melvin Booker. After splitting from Melvin, Veronica went on to have her third child, daughter Mya Powell, who reportedly has chromosome 22 deletion syndrome. RELATED: Devin Booker wins season-long NBA Community Assist Award for local outreach, I knew that he was going to take us far.. After the passing of his grandfather, Booker made it an emphasis to get intact. 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. I meet a lot of people around the basketball business that talk about him like, People may not know who your father is, but he could hoop, Devin Booker said. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. One even stopped behind it and crossed himself. 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. 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. Everywhere we went, everyone knew him. In a. 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. My Mexican culture has taught me a lot about myself. And many other local fans feel similarly. 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. While in high school, Devin exhibited his remarkable sporting talent. 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. Who Is Melvin Booker? You have people from all over with extreme talent. The Suns wear Noches neBA Nike City Edition uniforms with Los Suns across the chest and Somos PHX near the size tag at the bottom of the jersey. 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 takes a powerful woman to do that. 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. Moss Point wasnt suburban Grand Rapids where Devin grew up. And I think for Latino kids, its probably a little bit easier to envision themselves as Devin Booker.. I felt like and thought I would be drafted. Spend some time in Phoenixespecially latelyand that last sentiment rings true. Doesn't booker have more wins against luka overall? Did you get to the weight room?, He didnt understand. Devin soon started attending Grandville High School, and Melvin retired from professional basketball to stay closer to his son. 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. Thats how she ended up at a Suns game a few years ago on Latino Night and found out about Bookers heritage. 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. 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. I wasnt going to make the decision for him.. 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 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. He found the Blazer in Utah and dubbed it "Uncle Larry.". The more Booker researched his Hispanic background, the more he saw the similarities between his own ideals and the Mexican heritage within his bloodline. Ayton also had 11 rebounds. His maternal grandfather was born in Mexico but migrated to Michigan. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devins father and grandfather also attended the high school. At this point, that community knows who he is. I am a very proud father and I know my son is living his dream. I appreciate my dad actually telling me to make the move. 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. I have a five-year goal thats definitely on there, Booker said. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At just 20 years old, Devin Booker became the youngest NBA player to record a 70-point game. They needed the painting in five hours for a Fathers Day gift. That's something that's been with me in my blood since birth.. But there was always a connection, a warmth, pleasantries, between the two. Devin spent his early years in Grandville, Michigan, which was a suburb of Grand Rapids. 2K 38 Waru_ 1 day ago Symbolic start: After being drafted 13th overall, Bookers NBA debut took place in Phoenix on Oct. 28, 2015. But that was the sacrifice I had to make to provide for him and my family as well., Devin Booker says his father is now one of his best friends.. Jarred Vanderbilt is Devin Booker's grandfather. 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. My favorite part about being Mexican is the culture and being a part of the heritage, Booker said. He became an assistant basketball coach at his alma mater, Moss Point High School, after retiring from playing professionally. At the time, I was treating it as going away to prep school and my father was going to be there training me. I guess he has 2 dads. Who are Devin Booker's parents? Try a week on us. I havent gotten around to it yet, but thats the goal. Melvin Booker worried that his son might want to go back to Michigan after a bad first day of high school in Mississippi. Devins mother is Victoria Gutirrez, a Mexican-American who has two other children. 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]. Before his senior season, Devin narrowed his final college choices to his dads alma mater, Missouri, as well as Michigan, Michigan State, and Kentucky. 9. From his seat inside a suite at Phoenix Suns Arena, Arturo Ochoa can barely hear himself think. Its a feeling like no other. Other Latinos dream of bringing Booker home for dinner to introduce him to their most favorite Mexican dishes. 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. Devin Booker was born to play basketball as his father is a former professional basketball player. Sometimes I would go up to [Michigan] to watch him. 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. A grandfather and two granddaughters died in a DUI crash . Read Kevin OConnors grades of every first-round pick. 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. 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. The respect I received from my family and everyone in the city made me want to stay. And it seems as if things have gotten serious to the point where Devin Booker, 24, wanted his supermodel girlfriend Kendall Jenner, 25, to meet his grandma in Moss Point, Mississippi . But he said that me being drafted is better than him being drafted.. The 6-foot-1 point guard was a consensus 1994 Associated Press second-team All-America selection at Mizzou. A post shared by Devin (@dbook) Booker's collection features a first-generation Chevy Blazer with a lowered stance, top removed and a blue patina exterior. 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. This particular remark carries special significance for Ochoa. But draft night was one of the worst nights of my life., Said Devin Booker: I could tell he is still kind of hurt by it.. Devin quickly became a very good shooter and continued to grow to 6-foot-6. 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. It increases the fandom, just because its someone you can relate to, said Jason Macias, a lifelong Suns fan who is a third-generation Mexican American. 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. 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. 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. 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. Devin Booker is rumored to be dating Kendell Jenner. She made it happen. CartographerBlind. 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. Even so, he did have some lasting memories. Noting Bookers Mexican heritage is part of thatbut its also a responsibility Ochoa feels on a personal level. Luka Doncic's father, Devin Booker's grandfather, attended his first Mavericks game tonight . Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads. Jesus Gutierrez who went by Jesse, to most was originally from Mexico, growing up in a large family of 15 brothers and sisters in Nuevo Len before later settling in Michigan. Please enter a valid email and try again. 3. Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. Devin Booker Personal Life. Davon lives a single life. 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. 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. Devin Booker said he owes his mom the world for allowing him to depart to Mississippi and primarily raising him beforehand. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. 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. They never married but dated for many years and had Devin, Melvins only child, in 1996. NoseBlind2 22 days ago. They gaze up at the gold lettering and Larry OBrien Trophy graphics with anticipation and disbelief. Playing in Russia with the time difference it would be 3 in the morning there and the middle of the day for us. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Finding a place that was willing to make the flag, however, proved more difficult. It was better for my life.. 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. 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. Whenever Melvin traveled to other countries for his games, the fatherson duo would communicate through e-mails. The Suns, including owner Robert Sarver, spoke out against the bill and wore their Los Suns jerseys in solidarity with the community. First, Lugo commissioned a graphic designer friend to mock up the design. Oops. To the Gutirrezes, both of whom are first-generation Americans with Mexican parents, Bookers background is a source of pride. The following season, he was named to the All-NBA First Team and helped lead the Suns to a franchise record of 64 wins. 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. He's a former NBA player himself, born on August 20, 1972, and is the reason Devin is the star he is today. Off the bench: Bookers star status was built on a bench players foundation in college. Im around [Latino culture] every day, Booker said the day after winning Game 1 of the Finals. Melvin Booker averaged 28 points as a senior at Moss Point High and signed with the University of Missouri. I think I gained kind of a following there.. Now, with Booker on the team, they have something even more singular to cheer for: an NBA superstar who, at least in one way, is actually like them. Four seasons later, Booker became the Suns first All-Star since Nash. In June 2015, he was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 13th overall pick. He ended up meeting Devins mother, Veronica, when he was playing for the Grand Rapids Mackers in the 1995-1996 CBA season. It was hard for me to understand then why we couldnt communicate so much. At first, just being out of your comfort zone was a thing for me. Booker has this charisma that people connect with, Ochoa said. Im finally to the age where I realize I can ask questions and shes breaking it all down to me, Booker, 23, said. 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. He ended up at the fourth spot in the race for the 2016 Rookie of the Year award. Hes a young person, Perla said. They worked out on the court together. 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. Vigil said he didnt think that the uniforms felt like pandering; rather, it was finally merchandise that represented the largest demographic in Phoenix. It was tough, Devin Booker said. He began his standout basketball career at Moss Point High School . Devin played basketball with his dad and his friends. Bookers former coach in Phoenix, Earl Watson, shares a similar background with his maternal grandparents hailing from Mexico. The couple never married and cooperatively co-parented their son who was predominantly with his mother due to his dads professional basketball career. Hikaru has been surpassed for the number one spot on Chess.com's Blitz global leaderboard. 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. The then-18-year-old finished the game with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes. In June, sources confirmed the couple had split amid mounting speculation from fans who noticed signs of a breakup. Theres so much to learn about the Mexican culture, but Devin Booker says its never too late. 15 days ago. Devin certainly considered it, but didnt give up and it eventually worked out very well. "Some of my favorite times as a child was my mom whipping up, you know, original Mexican dishes that she learned from her. 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. I didnt like it all, Devin Booker said. 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. Everything we did was competitive, Devin Booker said. Originally from Mississippi, he became a great player in high school before getting signed to play for the University of Missouri. I see that as a wink to us because I think he knows thats how we dress. His maternal grandfather hails from Mexico. My draft night was one of the worst nights ever, Melvin Booker said. You drive around the city, you look into the stands at the game and you see it. 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. It's not one culture. News: 2 days ago Booker finished Sunday's 104-101 loss to the Bucks with 24 points (9-21 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 5-9 FT), four rebounds and eight assists over 38 minutes.. Its very surreal. You have the same issues and same problems you have at most urban schools. I had to convince them that he had to move to Mississippi if he wanted to move to that next level, Melvin Booker said. He died aged 67. The Lakers legend laughed about that sequence in postgame comments to the media, but he shared a private moment with Booker himself. 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. Most people have been doing that all their kids life. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Ever since [Devin] was 8 months old, he was coming with me in the summertime. With family being the most important thing to me, its also very embraced in the Mexican culture. On November 2, 2014, Devin scored 16 points, playing for his college team, against the University of Pikeville. With that, he began a great college basketball career, which paved the way for his future career in the sport. After his freshman year, he joined six Kentucky teammates by entering the 2015 NBA draft. 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. I think growing up, were usually in one part of the country, one region, the Midwest, West Coast kids, or from the south. 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. I was with my family back home. 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. Devin Booker's sister, Mya Powell, has always been in the limelight for her bond with the NBA player. Melvin Booker, his African-American father, played for the Continental Basketball Association Grand Rapids Mackers during the 1995-96 season. I think when youre young, you dont really understand it that much. So hes won the people of Phoenix over, especially the Latino community.. 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. 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. Down to just people saying Kobe when they shoot a piece of trash in the garbage. Hollywood Life 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. As a father, hed do anything I wanted to do. He taught his son to shoot with the correct form. 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. 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. 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. Isael Lugo didnt get 20 feet inside Phoenix Suns Arena before he was stopped last week. He finished his three-year career as the schools all-time leading scorer with 2,518 points. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. Getting the tacos, like for realnot the ones in Michigan, not the ones in Missouri. That meeting included a gift: a pair of signature shoes on which Bryant had written Be legendary.Booker has since gotten the phrase tattooed on his arm, and admitted his idol was very much on his mind when he scored 47 points in Game 6 to eliminate Bryants former team in the first round of the 2021 playoffs. Of thatbut its also a responsibility Ochoa feels on a bench players foundation in college Bookers Mexican heritage is of. A little bit easier to envision themselves as Devin Booker Devin played basketball with his grandfather. Piece of trash in the 1995-1996 CBA season Gutierrez and Melvin retired from professional basketball player much learn! 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