However, the matter did not do much damage to his career. Me taking my visits from Missouri from eighth grade on, just the love that he got there is something that Ive never seen before. But it was also quite challenging to build a relationship with his son from afar despite a couple of visits overseas. 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. Four seasons later, Booker became the Suns first All-Star since Nash. Ever since he was 8 months old he was coming with me in the summertime. 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. At just 20 years old, Devin Booker became the youngest NBA player to record a 70-point game. While in high school, Devin exhibited his remarkable sporting talent. Devin was immensely attached to his father. Luka Doncic's father, Devin Booker's grandfather, attended his first Mavericks game tonight . Booker is a two-time NBA All-Star and has been selected to play for Team USA in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which starts July 25, just three days after a possible Game 7 in the NBA Finals . A Draft lottery pick in 2015, Devin Booker has elevated himself from No. Rounding out his collection is a 1996 Chevrolet Impala SS finished in black cherry. He is the only child of former professional basketball star Melvin Booker, who is Devin's father. Huh, I thought Gary Trent was Luka Doncic father. And he drove a 1959 Impalawhich he later said was named Pretty Pennyto Game 1 of the Finals. Gary Trent Jr is Kawhi Leonard Wife. With Booker being Hispanic, I think it just opens the eyes to our culture around our Hispanic heritage, Lugo said. The 2014 McDonalds All-American selection averaged 30.9 points per game in his senior season. 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. 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). He began his standout basketball career at Moss Point High School . They mostly talked about and bonded through basketball. 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. But we did the best that we could.. 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. Watched sports together. I felt like and thought I would be drafted. Devin Booker, however, said much of his improvement as a basketball player at Moss Point came from the knowledge of the game his dad shared daily. Of course, her being my mother, she said, Just let me know when [youre] coming back. This is a good life here in the NBA. "Some of my favorite times as a child was my mom whipping up, you know, original Mexican dishes that she learned from her. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. FantasyPros considers the best player values for DraftKings and FanDuel NBA DFS. I also wanted him to be more of a role model to the kids to show that they could make it out of there. Devin Booker got "Be Legendary" tatted on him. Other Latinos dream of bringing Booker home for dinner to introduce him to their most favorite Mexican dishes. He was very supportive of everything that I did and still do today. I think I gained kind of a following there.. 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. Its helped me out a lot, he said. They decided to forgo. It ended up being one of the best decisions Ive ever made. Its something thats not too late to learn because, at the end of the day, this is what makes up me, said Booker. 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. The ones in downtown Phoenix, those are a little different.. But Devin didnt want to leave his mom and his friends. Booker 's parents met while father Melvin played semi-professional basketball for the local. His maternal grandfather was born in Mexico but migrated to Michigan. "I usually keep it Chevy, you know . Veronica is a Mexican-American and her father was born in Mexico. He met Veronica while mining a minor-league route to the league with the Grand Rapids Mackers of the Continental Basketball Association. 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 didnt tell him at all, but I called my mom that night telling her that I might be back soon. He finished his three-year career as the schools all-time leading scorer with 2,518 points. 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. 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. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devin's father and grandfather also attended the high school. It was special. Davon is the eldest brother of an American basketball player Devin Booker who plays for Phoenix Suns. Melvin Booker averaged 5.2 points in 17 minutes in just 24 NBA games and believed that he didnt get a true shot. 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. The player has confronted that culture's strong family ties are the ones he had always embraced and inherited in his 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. That was the only reason I put Devin there. 2K 38 Waru_ 1 day ago Phoenixs diversity hasnt made it immune from Arizonas complicated relationship with Latinos (especially those who have immigrated to the country). 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. 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. Kevin Durant shows no signs of rust in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new teammates. I think for those of us that are Hispanic, there is even another layer to that. 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. 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 April 2015, Devin decided to let go of the remaining years of college and signed up for the NBA draft. Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, who is serving a 25-game suspension for getting caught using a diuretic. He became the fourth-youngest NBA player to score 1,000 points in the first season. Devin Booker scored 24 points, Deandre Ayton had 22 and Chris Paul added 18 for Phoenix. Being able to touch those types of communities in this area makes all this that much better, said Booker. Telephone conversations between father and son werent the norm during the elders playing days since international calls were very expensive. After having Devin in 1996, she was often the one to spend time with him when Melvin traveled in different countries for his professional basketball career. He was just a really caring guy, Booker said of his grandfather in a recent telephone conversation with The Athletic. 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. They gaze up at the gold lettering and Larry OBrien Trophy graphics with anticipation and disbelief. His voice rings into his microphone as Booker hits a tough shot, which Ochoa describes in detail before punctuating the play with his go-to description for the Suns star: El hombre con herencia hispana! The man with Hispanic heritage. 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. They never married but dated for many years and had Devin, Melvins only child, in 1996. I owe her all the credit for allowing that to happen, Melvin Booker 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. But Booker says it was here in Phoenix where he first experienced the Mexican culture. 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. 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. 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. 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. You have people from all over with extreme talent. I can only imagine how it is across the water. 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. Devin visited Missouri twice, but his dad says he didnt pressure him to go there. 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. Did you get extra shots up? lxkandel06 22 days ago. Melvin is African-American and Veronica is Puerto-Rican and Mexican American. Getting the tacos, like for realnot the ones in Michigan, not the ones in 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. It was hard for me to understand then why we couldnt communicate so much. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. Devin Booker spends his sprawling $26.6 million fortune to live a lavish life. His stunning performance in his rookie season earned praises from basketball legends such as Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. Booker has said that before he was drafted by Phoenix in 2015, he hadnt really been able to connect with his Mexican roots. His maternal grandfather was born in Mexico but migrated to Michigan. 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. Mya supports her brother during the matches and is an inspiration to Devin. This particular remark carries special significance for Ochoa. I didnt like it all, Devin Booker said. Devin Bookers Dating History: All About His 2-Year Romance With Kendall Jenner & Past Loves. Melvin Booker told his son that he needed to have a high basketball IQ since he didnt own elite athleticism and running ability. Hes a young person, Perla said. That was what made me. So hes won the people of Phoenix over, especially the Latino community.. Its hard to explain. 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. Now, Booker routinely quizzes his mother on their family history, hoping that she shares some knowledge on his past that can inspire his future. I guess he has 2 dads. I would definitely, my moms rice, her sopa, cheese, and the tortillas, that's all you need, said Elena Beltran. But now that Im a professional and Ive been around this lifestyle, I understand how hard it is. He made his professional NBA debut against the Dallas Mavericks two days before his 19th birthday. "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. He did eventually make it to the NBA, first playing 11 games for the Houston Rockets during the 1995-96 season. Booker's traces his Latino roots back to his maternal grandfather, who was born in a border town named Nogales in Mexico. Latin-American ambassador: Booker's maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico, a fact Booker has grown to. RELATED: Devin Booker accepts spot on U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team. I still have mixed feelings about it, Gutierrez wrote. Even after having a really long playoff run, Devin Booker wasn't . 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. 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. Im finally to the age where I realize I can ask questions and shes breaking it all down to me, Booker, 23, said. Finding a place that was willing to make the flag, however, proved more difficult. His mom even has the same last name as us: Gutirrez.. This high school in the South had serious urban problems. 3-Point Contest: The league noticed Bookers shooting stroke immediately and invited its youngest player to participate in the 2016 Three-Point Contest. That didnt stop him from shooting 41.1% from 3-point range in the Wildcats march to the Final Four. Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. Theres so much to learn about the Mexican culture, but Devin Booker says its never too late. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. 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. Unfortunately, the NBA teams didnt love Melvin Booker during the 1994 NBA draft. I see that as a wink to us because I think he knows thats how we dress. 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. Devin, a three-time NBA All-Star, is a professional . 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