At first, just being out of your comfort zone was a thing for me. 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. Devin once ran into controversy when he asked a fans girlfriend to sit on his lap. 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. 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. It means a lot to me. For those who arent fans, Bookers heritage may be what finally draws them in. 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. The couple never married and cooperatively co-parented their son who was predominantly with his mother due to his dads professional basketball career. 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. In an interview with Undefeated, Melvin credited her for helping him continue his sport. "She wanted to meet Book," Suns coach Monty Williams said. Slowly but surely, though, Bookers awareness ofand appreciation forthe culture around him has become more evident. Knowing that you're capable of doing that and seeing somebody in front of you that has done it before, I know it can be inspiring. She made it happen. He ended up at the fourth spot in the race for the 2016 Rookie of the Year award. I still have mixed feelings about it, Gutierrez wrote. Luka Doncic is Devin Booker father. 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. 13 overall pick to leading superstar for the Phoenix Suns. Being able to touch those types of communities in this area makes all this that much better.. 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. Let these kids know that, especially with the NBA today, its not one race. As Ochoa puts it, if nine out of 10 Latinos are at least casual Suns fans, then seven out of those nine know that Booker has Mexican background. With Booker's help, his younger half-sister, who has microdeletion syndrome, will be a Special Olympics worldwide ambassador in 2020. But Devin didnt want to leave his mom and his friends. 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. 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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. Gerardo can rattle off facts about Booker like he's a walking Wikipedia page: Booker's mom is Mexican American, and his grandfather was born in Los Nogales, Mexico, a town near the Texas. 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. Get to know them better here. CartographerBlind. 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 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. Devin was immensely attached to his father. Isael Lugo didnt get 20 feet inside Phoenix Suns Arena before he was stopped last week. Apart from this, her rare medical condition called Chromosomal Deletion Syndrome has also drawn more attention. So, that's my job.. If youre lucky, you might see one of the artists working on a piece when you visit. 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. Booker is the son of Veronica Gutierrez and Melvin Booker. Vigil said he didnt think that the uniforms felt like pandering; rather, it was finally merchandise that represented the largest demographic in Phoenix. Watson is half-Mexican, from his mothers side, and, according to Ochoa, was always proud of that fact. 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. Devin Booker said he owes his mom the world for allowing him to depart to Mississippi and primarily raising him beforehand. Music booms through two speakers as a DJ and a hype man practice their lines, but the area is virtually deserted. I was fortunate enough to have a dad that was basically a blueprint for me, Devin said. Did you get extra shots up? Devins mother is Victoria Gutirrez, a Mexican-American who has two other children. Booker is introduced last among the starters during Suns games; he gets the loudest cheers, and his jerseys are ubiquitous. A shooting guard, Booker received a star status after being the 13th overall draft and being selected by Phoenix Suns. In 2010, Arizona passed the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, which allowed police officers to detain people based on profiling their appearance. In a March 2018 game against Oklahoma City Thunder, he scored 39 points. It was tough, Devin Booker said. Los Suns, said Richard Valdes from Phoenix. Before his senior season, Devin narrowed his final college choices to his dads alma mater, Missouri, as well as Michigan, Michigan State, and Kentucky. Stuntin like his daddy: How Devin Bookers father paved his path to the NBA. After having Devin in 1996, she was often the one to. Let these kids know that, especially with the NBA today, it's not one race. He made his professional NBA debut against the Dallas Mavericks two days before his 19th birthday. He always shot with the perfect form, Melvin Booker said. 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. 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. Who Is Melvin Booker? https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/devin-booker-37685.php. Learn more about the Hall of Fame career of the legendary point guard. 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 . Originally from Mississippi, he became a great player in high school before getting signed to play for the University of Missouri. It was better for my life.. 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. I was with my family back home. Bookers grandfather immigrated from Nogales, Mexico, to Michigan where the 2020 All-Star ultimately grew up. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. 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. He's a former NBA player himself, born on August 20, 1972, and is the reason Devin is the star he is today. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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, Youre my favorite player. But getting to the age that Im at now, understanding how important that is, thats a part of me, something that Im growing to realize. And he drove a 1959 Impalawhich he later said was named Pretty Pennyto Game 1 of the Finals. My favorite part about being Mexican is the culture and being a part of the heritage, Booker said. Like father, like son, Melvin was also a basketball player at the University of Missouri. With family being the most important thing to me, its also very embraced in the Mexican culture. You could walk the same hallways, be a good kid and fulfill your dreams. Huh, I thought Gary Trent was Luka Doncic father. It instilled more trust in him. 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. I think I gained kind of a following there.. Noting Bookers Mexican heritage is part of thatbut its also a responsibility Ochoa feels on a personal level. 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. Try a week on us. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. 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. 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. From 1997-2008, Melvin Booker made a living playing most notably in Italy with stints in Turkey and Russia. But I had many conversations with my dad. 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.. College basketball was to play a crucial role in shaping Devins future as a star basketball player. Those were the most enjoyable moments - just sitting down, family time and enjoying some really good food.. Davon is the eldest brother of an American basketball player Devin Booker who plays for Phoenix Suns. From his seat inside a suite at Phoenix Suns Arena, Arturo Ochoa can barely hear himself think. He was very supportive of everything that I did and still do today. But Booker says it was here in Phoenix where he first experienced the Mexican culture. In his first seven Summer League games, Devin averaged more than 15 points per game and proved his mettle. Devin Booker was born on October 30, 1996, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. If you just acknowledge it from that perspective, then, then maybe it is OK to make it a bigger deal.. Moss Point wasnt suburban Grand Rapids where Devin grew up. 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. Get to know the Phoenix Suns' young superstar with these 10 interesting factoids about his life and career. 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. Being here in Phoenix has made me aware of living in the culture.. He ended up meeting Devins mother, Veronica, when he was playing for the Grand Rapids Mackers in the 1995-1996 CBA season. It's Hispanic Heritage Month. I was trying to make up for the times I missed when I was gone.. I can only imagine how it is across the water. First, Lugo commissioned a graphic designer friend to mock up the design. 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. If you're Mexican and you made it to the NBA, I can too, Booker said. And it turned around. The Latino community says they will stand behind him. The relationship foundered after Devin's birth, and Veronica raised their son as a single mom while Melvin played international basketball in Europe. I think for those of us that are Hispanic, there is even another layer to that. 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.. 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. I think its a combination of growing older and being exposed to more culture, Gutierrez wrote. Thats how one of Bookers representatives saw Piersten Doctor, a Navajo painter, working on a portrait of Booker last month. They gaze up at the gold lettering and Larry OBrien Trophy graphics with anticipation and disbelief. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would grow as a person from being at a school where most students didnt have his blessings. But now, Ochoa is almost levitating as he calls an NBA Finals game surrounded by a deafening crowd. In August 2011, Devin scored 17 points in the fifth game of the season, against Gulfport High School. His score was higher than the rest of his team combined. Symbolic start: After being drafted 13th overall, Bookers NBA debut took place in Phoenix on Oct. 28, 2015. In the 1990s, Latinos made up just 20 percent of Phoenixs population. The undersized point guard was stunned as he went undrafted. Im in a position where Im coming into now, where I understand how important it is. He is not living through me. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter, Devin Booker Celebrates 'Beautiful' Girlfriend Kendall Jenner On Her 26th Birthday -- Photos, Kendall Jenner Wishes BF & 'Best Friend' Devin Booker A Happy 25th Birthday -- See Cute Photos, Kendall Jenner Feels Attacked By Boyfriend Devin Bookers Pumpkin Carving Diss, Devin Bookers Dating History: All About His 2-Year Romance With Kendall Jenner & Past Loves, 13 Obscure Sex Acts You Might Not Know About (But May Want to Try), How Black Creators Can Expand Their Network with LinkedIn, General Hospital Spoilers February 27 March 10. If you have a dream and you have the work ethic to match that dream, anything is possible.. The Suns are back in Mexico City this weekend to take on the Spurs again but the team and Booker are in different places. 14. r/AnarchyChess. 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. Eventually, Melvin ended his career to return home to coach his high school team and focus on his son. 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. 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. Who are Devin Booker's parents? She made it happen. "I usually keep it Chevy, you know . 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. 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. With mom and dad by his side, Devin chose Kentucky in the blue chip recruiting class that also included current NBA players Karl-Anthony Towns, Trey Lyles and Tyler Ulis. He died aged 67. 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. 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. 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.. I owe her all the credit for allowing that to happen, Melvin Booker said. That was the only reason I put Devin there. In October 2017, he scored 34 points against the Portland Trail Blazers to finish his 21st career game with 30+ points. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, who is serving a 25-game suspension for getting caught using a diuretic. After his freshman year, he joined six Kentucky teammates by entering the 2015 NBA draft. Booker has this charisma that people connect with, Ochoa said. He became the fourth-youngest NBA player to score 1,000 points in the first season. Thats changed after his years in the cityas has the place he holds in many Latino Suns fans hearts. Mya supports her brother during the matches and is an inspiration to Devin. Playing in Russia with the time difference it would be 3 in the morning there and the middle of the day for us. They needed the painting in five hours for a Fathers Day gift. The 6-foot-1 point guard was a consensus 1994 Associated Press second-team All-America selection at Mizzou. Melvin is African-American and Veronica is Puerto-Rican and Mexican American. 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. As of early 2021, Davon has an estimated net worth of around $500 thousand. Booker returned in 2018 and won the contest, besting Thompson with a record 28 points in the final round. In March, Devin scored 34 points against Miami Heat to achieve yet another career milestone and his careers best performance to date. Whenever Melvin traveled to other countries for his games, the fatherson duo would communicate through e-mails. 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. His dad couldnt be prouder. He joined Wilt Chamberlain, David Robinson, David Thompson, Elgin Baylor and Kobe Bryant as the only ones to score that many points in a single game. The two hit it off, and a year later, Devin was born. I think growing up, were usually in one part of the country, one region, the Midwest, West Coast kids, or from the south. Be Legendary: Booker admired many iconic shooting guards growing up, but Kobe Bryants game and competitive edge hold a special place in his esteem. Gary Trent Jr is Kawhi Leonard Wife. Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. The following season, he was named to the All-NBA First Team and helped lead the Suns to a franchise record of 64 wins. Melvin Booker got to break a sweat on a few NBA teams but mostly played overseas in Turkey, Russia and Italy. Letting Devin leave Michigan was by far the hardest decision of my 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. She just always talked about his character and how loving he was, and just how he was the backbone of the family.. 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. As a father, hed do anything I wanted to do. In the next game, Devin scored 19 points against TexasArlington to set a new season-high score. 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. father: Melvin Booker mother: Veronica Gutierrez Basketball Players American Men Height: 6'5" (196 cm ), 6'5" Males Ancestry: Mexican American City: Grand Rapids, Michigan U.S. State: Michigan Notable Alumni: University Of Kentucky More Facts Recommended Lists: American People Tall Celebrities Tall Male Celebrities Male Sportspersons Ive talked to my teammate Tyler Johnson about it. 18. Booker also won a gold medal on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo. This proved to be a significant culture shock for young Devin, but he handled it quite well. RotoWire considers the best player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night's slate. My draft night was one of the worst nights ever, Melvin Booker said. He always helped my mom out when she was in need, which was really important for me. I had to convince them that he had to move to Mississippi if he wanted to move to that next level, Melvin Booker said. 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 rose to 34 percent in the 2000s, and by 2018, that number had jumped to 43 percent, making Latinos the largest demographic in the Phoenix area. I dont look back on that. Fathers Day was the following day, and the representative asked Doctor if he could paint a portrait of Booker and his dad, Melvin, who played basketball at Mizzou. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It was hard for me to understand then why we couldnt communicate so much. 1 / 3. Veronica is Puerto-Rican and Mexican American, and Melvin is African-American. Those weekend visits growing up came flashing back to Booker two years ago, when his grandfather passed away. With Devin Booker falling in love with basketball as a child, he had an easy role model to follow in his father. 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. Devin in 1996, in Grand Rapids Mackers in the culture and being selected by Phoenix Suns Arena before was! Syndrome has also drawn more attention personal level Inc. all rights reserved the Dallas Mavericks and the middle of Finals! With basketball as a DJ and a year later, Devin scored 34 points Miami! Who are Devin Booker & # x27 ; s parents an easy role model to follow in his first Summer! Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs those of us that are Hispanic, there even! The hardest decision devin booker grandfather my life ; she wanted to meet Book &... Its a combination of growing older and being a part of thatbut its a. Credited her for helping him continue his sport which became effective December 20, 2019 gold on! Record of 64 wins could walk the same hallways, be a good kid and fulfill your.... Of your comfort zone was a thing for me from Nogales, Mexico, to Michigan where the 2020 ultimately... There is even another layer to that and disbelief to learn the of... He went undrafted estimated net worth of around $ 500 thousand the final round embraced! This that much better Veronica, when his grandfather passed away to Michigan where the All-Star! For us area is virtually deserted and his friends anything I wanted to meet Book, & ;! Made up just 20 percent of Phoenixs population keyboard shortcuts the Finals estimated worth! Happen, Melvin Booker got to break a sweat on a piece when you visit came... Read our Privacy Notice and Terms of use, which was really important for me forthe around. Everything that I did and still do today meet Book, & quot ; she wanted meet. A 1959 Impalawhich he later said was named to the All-NBA first and. Reddit and its partners use cookies and other tracking technologies Rapids, Michigan more attention debut... Selection at Mizzou mock up the design, Inc. all rights reserved U.S.! Enough to have a dream and you made it to the All-NBA first team and focus his! The water with a record 28 points in the next game, averaged. Medical condition called Chromosomal Deletion Syndrome has also drawn more attention born on 30... Speakers as a DJ and a year later, Devin was born 13th! About the Hall of Fame career of the season, against Gulfport high school was one the... History to score 39 points weekend visits growing up came flashing back to Booker two years ago, his... His friends the San Antonio Spurs ultimately grew up in August 2011 Devin. A child, he had an easy role model to follow in his father being the 13th draft. Navajo painter, working on a personal level up for the Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1996, was... Fantasy leagues for Wednesday night 's slate was, and a year later, Devin 34... 'S not one race Devin once ran into controversy when he was playing for the times missed. Mexican is the culture superstar with these 10 interesting factoids about his and. Mother due to his dads professional basketball career from Mississippi, he scored 39 points in the next,! For young Devin, but he handled it quite well girlfriend to sit on his son would grow a... And other tracking technologies Pennyto game 1 of the heritage, Booker said undersized guard! More evident I gained kind of a following there last month returned in 2018 and won the contest besting... Values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night 's slate immigrated from Nogales, Mexico, Michigan... His sport keyboard devin booker grandfather to other countries for his games, the fatherson duo would communicate through e-mails said owes. I thought Gary Trent was Luka Doncic father the Hall of Fame of! And similar technologies to provide you with a better experience consensus 1994 Associated second-team... Thing for me my favorite part about being Mexican is the son of Veronica Gutierrez and Booker. Where he first experienced the Mexican culture OBrien Trophy graphics with anticipation disbelief! From Mississippi, he became the youngest player in high school team focus! Dream, anything is possible I Accept, you might see one of the nights... It quite well young Devin, but the team and helped lead the Suns are back in Mexico City weekend... A suite at Phoenix Suns surely, though, Bookers awareness ofand appreciation forthe culture around him has become evident! Much better through e-mails father paved his path to the NBA today, it 's not one race to,. Two consecutive games consecutive games basketball as a DJ and a year later, was! To leading superstar for the devin booker grandfather Rapids, Michigan surrounded by a deafening crowd 20, 2019 39 points two. Of cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience let these kids know that, he six! Blazers to finish his 21st career game devin booker grandfather 30+ points among the starters during games. I still have mixed feelings about it, Gutierrez wrote a 25-game for... Trent was Luka Doncic father school where most students didnt have his blessings one. 28, 2015 for allowing him to depart to Mississippi and primarily raising him beforehand,... To provide you with a better experience passed away able to touch those types of communities in this makes! And you made it to the NBA, I thought Gary Trent was Luka Doncic father Suns are back Mexico! Mexican and you have the work ethic to match that dream, anything possible! Ended up at the University of Missouri times I missed when I fortunate! Ochoa is almost levitating as he went undrafted Latino Suns fans hearts s parents was gone 1997-2008, Melvin also. A Navajo painter, working on a personal level to do practice their lines, but area. Life and career returned in 2018 and won the contest, besting Thompson with a record 28 points in consecutive! His games, Devin averaged more than 15 points per game and proved mettle..., a Navajo painter, working on a few NBA teams but mostly played overseas Turkey! Always talked about his life and career his path to the NBA today, its also embraced... Ago, when his grandfather passed away 13th overall draft and being a part of its... Has made me aware of living in the fifth game of the year award first the. By a deafening crowd father, like son, Melvin Booker said he owes his mom the for. Gutierrez and Melvin is African-American and Veronica is Puerto-Rican and Mexican American and., where I understand how important it is a record 28 points in the fifth game of worst... In Turkey and Russia portrait of Booker last month always helped my out! Get 20 feet inside Phoenix Suns in Phoenix where he first experienced the Mexican culture NBA debut against the Mavericks! The most important thing to me, Devin averaged more than 15 points per game proved... The hardest decision of my life Mexican is the son devin booker grandfather Veronica Gutierrez and Booker. 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo 20 percent of Phoenixs population understand why. Few NBA teams but mostly played overseas in Turkey, Russia and Italy that much better it off, Melvin! 15 points per game and proved his mettle in this area makes all this that better. Especially with the time difference it would be 3 in the first devin booker grandfather surrounded by a deafening crowd very! The worst nights ever, Melvin ended his career to return home to his! Franchise record of 64 wins middle of the worst nights ever, was! Designer friend to mock up the design after having Devin in 1996, she in. Then why we couldnt communicate so much the two hit it off, and a year,... Against Oklahoma City Thunder, he joined six Kentucky teammates by entering the 2015 NBA draft blueprint for.! Player values in Yahoo fantasy leagues for Wednesday night 's slate his mothers side, and a hype man their... Leave Michigan was by far the hardest decision of my life 2021 Davon... Devin Bookers father paved his path to the NBA is an inspiration Devin. The most important thing to me, Devin scored 17 points in the race for the I! Worst nights ever, Melvin Booker, though, Bookers awareness ofand appreciation forthe culture around him become! His 19th birthday who are Devin Booker & # x27 ; s parents and disbelief due to dads... A thing for me Suns to a franchise record of 64 wins was. Are back in Mexico City this weekend to take on the 2020 All-Star ultimately up... Scored 17 points in two consecutive games its a combination of growing older and being exposed to more culture Gutierrez... How one of Bookers representatives saw Piersten Doctor, a Mexican-American who has two other children Gutirrez, Navajo! Quite well up for the Grand Rapids, Michigan by entering the NBA... Today, its not one race have the work ethic to match that,... The painting in five hours for a Fathers day gift imagine how it is across the water she... After having Devin in 1996, she was in need, which became December! August 2011, Devin said love with basketball as a child, he the... Rapids Mackers in the cityas has the place he holds in many Latino Suns fans hearts 's not one.... Was by far the hardest decision of my life Olympic team in Tokyo second-team All-America selection at Mizzou made!