Ever since [Devin] was 8 months old, he was coming with me in the summertime. Who Is Melvin Booker? Get to know the Phoenix Suns' young superstar with these 10 interesting factoids about his life and career. 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. Booker has also recently started driving old-school cars and lowriders to games. 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. Davon is the eldest brother of an American basketball player Devin Booker who plays for Phoenix Suns. Watson is half-Mexican, from his mothers side, and, according to Ochoa, was always proud of that fact. But living around it and the culture and getting to see it day to day is a lot better. 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.. Noticing his immense talent, Melvin tried hard to bring his son back to Mississippi permanently. Who the f is this guy lmao. Be Legendary: Booker admired many iconic shooting guards growing up, but Kobe Bryants game and competitive edge hold a special place in his esteem. In April 2015, Devin decided to let go of the remaining years of college and signed up for the NBA draft. That didnt stop him from shooting 41.1% from 3-point range in the Wildcats march to the Final Four. 204. After splitting from Melvin, Veronica went on to have her third child, daughter Mya Powell, who reportedly has chromosome 22 deletion syndrome. Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. I was trying to make up for the times I missed when I was gone, he told the outlet in 2016. Thats how she ended up at a Suns game a few years ago on Latino Night and found out about Bookers heritage. Please enter a valid email and try again. You drive around the city, you look into the stands at the game and you see it. 14. r/AnarchyChess. Ahead of Game 6 of the Lakers series, Booker drove a Grand National to Staples Center. Devin Booker scored 24 points, Deandre Ayton had 22 and Chris Paul added 18 for Phoenix. This season was to mark his fifth appearance in the competition before ultimately pulling out due to injury. Everyone loved him.. In the 1990s, Latinos made up just 20 percent of Phoenixs population. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. Its a feeling like no other. He averaged 13.8 points per game. 18. 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). Melvin Booker played in the American minor leagues for the Hartford Hellcats and Pittsburgh Piranhas and had two stints with Grand Rapids. Im around [Latino culture] every day, Booker said the day after winning Game 1 of the Finals. 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 She made it happen. Melvin Booker averaged 28 points as a senior at Moss Point High and signed with the University of Missouri. In another January game against the Indiana Pacers, he scored 32 points to become the third-youngest NBA player and the youngest Suns player to score more than 30 points in a game. He did eventually make it to the NBA, first playing 11 games for the Houston Rockets during the 1995-96 season. Of course, her being my mother, she said, Just let me know when [youre] coming back. Being here in Phoenix has made me aware of living in the culture.. Were going to see him do and be more involved in our community.. It was hard for me to understand then why we couldnt communicate so much. 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. 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. 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. Im ready for you. But I stayed because of the mindset I had my whole life was just never giving up. . It was his mother, Veronica Gutierrez's hometown, and his father, Melvin Booker, who played for CBA's Grand Rapids Hoops. Booker, not knowing Spanish, wasnt as comfortable sharing that side of himself until Watson encouraged him to. 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. My Mexican culture has taught me a lot about myself. He continued to play brilliantly, earning praises from a popular Press-Register sportswriter, Creg Stephenson, who wrote that Devins average of 22.7 points during the season showed that he had developed to be one of the best players on the coast. So I came to pick him up after school and the first thing he said was, I dont know about this, dad., This was a social setting he needed to be around to know how blessed he had it because he was around a lot of kids with the typical urban story with no father in their lives Those were the things he needed to see and didnt see before.. To the Gutirrezes, both of whom are first-generation Americans with Mexican parents, Bookers background is a source of pride. But I had many conversations with my dad. 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. Ever since he was 8 months old he was coming with me in the summertime. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Off the bench: Bookers star status was built on a bench players foundation in college. US former first children today He's. I think when youre young, you dont really understand it that much. 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. Devin ended the season with an average of 22.1 points per game. After the passing of his grandfather, Booker made it an emphasis to get intact. 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. These fans might have not been at the game, but that didnt mean they couldnt keep the party going after. Now, with the Suns winning and Bookers background gaining prevalence, Ochoa has noticed an increased interest from Latinos around the cityand even from new fans in Mexico. 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. 3-Point Contest: The league noticed Bookers shooting stroke immediately and invited its youngest player to participate in the 2016 Three-Point Contest. 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. I would definitely, my moms rice, her sopa, cheese, and the tortillas, that's all you need, said Elena Beltran. And it turned around. Devin Booker spends his sprawling $26.6 million fortune to live a lavish life. It brought tears to my eyes. 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. 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. Its hard to explain. Four seasons later, Booker became the Suns first All-Star since Nash. 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. The Suns, including owner Robert Sarver, spoke out against the bill and wore their Los Suns jerseys in solidarity with the community. Now shes a diehard fan who makes a point to go to the players entrance before every game to welcome the team. I shared a locker room with [Hakeem] Olajuwon, [Clyde] Drexler and Sam Cassell.. He's a former NBA player himself, born on August 20, 1972, and is the reason Devin is the star he is today. The couple never married and cooperatively co-parented their son who was predominantly with his mother due to his dads professional basketball career. 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. My relationship with my grandfather was unbelievable, Booker said. RELATED: Devin Booker wins season-long NBA Community Assist Award for local outreach, I knew that he was going to take us far.. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. 15 days ago. A lot of them, at that point, didnt know that Booker was of Mexican descent, Ochoa said. In a match against the New Orleans Pelicans in November 2016, Devin scored a career-high of 38 points, and a few days later, he bettered it by scoring 39 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. He became the first Phoenix Suns player in 28 years to touch the 38-point mark consecutively in two matches. Let these kids know that, especially with the NBA today, it's not one race. 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. Devin Booker said he owes his mom the world for allowing him to depart to Mississippi and primarily raising him beforehand. The 6-foot-1 point guard was a consensus 1994 Associated Press second-team All-America selection at Mizzou. To let you know, Devin's maternal grandfather was one of the immigrants from Nogales, Mexico. 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. Davon Wade works as a realtor at Linehan Real Estate. Even then, he still dedicated portions of his post-practice routine to footwork and shot-making on the block. I dont think a lot of people understand how somebody from Alabama or Mississippi was raised. Im finally to the age where I realize I can ask questions and shes breaking it all down to me, Booker, 23, said. It's not one culture. Division I colleges were already pursuing him. Spin: Booker led the Suns in . He was always shooting with correct form.. From his seat inside a suite at Phoenix Suns Arena, Arturo Ochoa can barely hear himself think. Eventually, Melvin ended his career to return home to coach his high school team and focus on his son. 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. Let these kids know that, especially with the NBA today, its not one race. I see that as a wink to us because I think he knows thats how we dress. His maternal grandfather hails from Mexico. But Devin didnt want to leave his mom and his friends. 13 overall pick to leading superstar for the Phoenix Suns. Los Suns, said Richard Valdes from Phoenix. 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. I think for those of us that are Hispanic, there is even another layer to that. 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.. Devin certainly considered it, but didnt give up and it eventually worked out very well. 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. 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. So, just trying to inspire in that type of way and keep representing the heritage. Other Latinos dream of bringing Booker home for dinner to introduce him to their most favorite Mexican dishes. The two hit it off, and a year later, Devin was born. 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.. 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. 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. At this point, that community knows who he is. Before his senior season, Devin narrowed his final college choices to his dads alma mater, Missouri, as well as Michigan, Michigan State, and Kentucky. 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. A Draft lottery pick in 2015, Devin Booker has elevated himself from No. 9. Read Kevin OConnors grades of every first-round pick. In March, Devin scored 34 points against Miami Heat to achieve yet another career milestone and his careers best performance to date. NoseBlind2 22 days ago. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. Music booms through two speakers as a DJ and a hype man practice their lines, but the area is virtually deserted. Since Melvin was playing basketball overseas most of his life, the one-on-one that he got with his father was good for him.. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. I was trying to make up for the times I missed when I was gone.. 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. It takes a powerful woman to do that. But Booker says it was here in Phoenix where he first experienced the Mexican culture. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Melvin Booker gave strong credit to Gutierrez for doing a great job of keeping me connected while he was playing professional basketball and allowing him to get off-season time with his only child. So good, it should come with a spoiler alert. 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 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. 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 scored a franchise-record and NBA season-high 70 points on March 24, 2017. Who are Devin Booker's parents? Join. Being able to touch those types of communities in this area makes all this that much better.. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. His maternal grandfather was born in Mexico but migrated to Michigan. 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. He found a role model in his father and started practicing basketball in school. Learn more about the Hall of Fame career of the legendary point guard. Every day has been a learning process for me. 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. We feel like we have to go even more above and beyond to get him the proper respect that we believe he deserves.. Especially with him embracing it, I mean, it brings us more attention toojust knowing that hes Hispanic and hes not afraid to show it.. High and signed up for the times I missed when I was gone, he told the in. Winning game 1 of the remaining years of college and signed with the community about his life career..., first playing 11 games for the times I missed when I was gone, he still dedicated portions his. 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