My draft night was one of the worst nights ever, Melvin Booker said. He was always shooting with correct form.. 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. Luka Doncic's father, Devin Booker's grandfather, attended his first Mavericks game tonight . His grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico where he and his family stayed for decades. I shared a locker room with [Hakeem] Olajuwon, [Clyde] Drexler and Sam Cassell.. Learn more about the Hall of Fame career of the legendary point guard. If youre lucky, you might see one of the artists working on a piece when you visit. 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. Originally from Mississippi, he became a great player in high school before getting signed to play for the University of Missouri. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devins father and grandfather also attended the high school. When I dropped my son off at school, it was the first time, and he was 15 years old, Melvin Booker said. Its helped me out a lot, he said. I also wanted him to be more of a role model to the kids to show that they could make it out of there. So good, it should come with a spoiler alert. 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. They played video games together. 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. To the Gutirrezes, both of whom are first-generation Americans with Mexican parents, Bookers background is a source of pride. But it was also quite challenging to build a relationship with his son from afar despite a couple of visits overseas. A grandfather and two granddaughters died in a DUI crash . Melvin Booker worried that his son might want to go back to Michigan after a bad first day of high school in Mississippi. Family has always been first and foremost in Bookers life and seeing that embracement of family values within the Hispanic community has only helped Booker admire and connect to his ancestry. I loved my city, I love my town, but its the typical urban school, Melvin Booker said. Devin and his father were around each other daily for the first time. Thats part of the reason I grind so much, Devin Booker said. Devin Bookers Dating History: All About His 2-Year Romance With Kendall Jenner & Past Loves. 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. Ever since he was 8 months old he was coming with me in the summertime. Booker also won a gold medal on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team in Tokyo. He averaged 13.8 points per game. You drive around the city, you look into the stands at the game and you see it. Get to know the Utah Jazz's star center with these 10 interesting factoids about his life and career. At just 20 years old, Devin Booker became the youngest NBA player to record a 70-point game. We all had an understanding that it would be the best decision for me reaching my dreams. The lack of representation within the league has encouraged Booker to carry the mantle for people of Mexican heritage. As Booker has become more outspoken about his heritage, he has begun to see the younger Hispanic community embrace him as an inspiration and reach out to him to show their support and admiration. His father was a brilliant young NBA player when he met Veronica during on one of his tours for the Continental Basketball Association.. Unfortunately, the NBA teams didnt love Melvin Booker during the 1994 NBA draft. 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. Devin visited Missouri twice, but his dad says he didnt pressure him to go there. We feel like we have to go even more above and beyond to get him the proper respect that we believe he deserves.. Im around [Latino culture] every day, Booker said the day after winning Game 1 of the Finals. I think thats why he is eager to learn more now.. For those who arent fans, Bookers heritage may be what finally draws them in. I got to see the guys like Michael Jordan play up close, Melvin Booker said. Grandville was a town that was dominated by its white population. In the same month, he played in his fifth 30-point game of the season, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. By the end of the season, Devin was part of another 30-point game and finished his rookie season with 1,048 points in total. 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. Hes from a suburban, predominantly white town, Melvin Booker told The Undefeated. But there was always a connection, a warmth, pleasantries, between the two. Melvin Booker averaged 5.2 points in 17 minutes in just 24 NBA games and believed that he didnt get a true shot. US former first children today He's. He began his standout basketball career at Moss Point High School . To let you know, Devin's maternal grandfather was one of the immigrants from Nogales, Mexico. RELATED: Devin Booker accepts spot on U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team. 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. Middleton found Lopez for the go-ahead basket with 24.8 seconds remaining. 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). Gary Trent Jr is Kawhi Leonard Wife. I have a very traditional tight Mexican family on my fathers side, but Devins life has pretty much been on the go with school, b-ball and summers in Mississippi. Get to know the Phoenix Suns' young superstar with these 10 interesting factoids about his life and career. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Doesn't booker have more wins against luka overall? Like father, like son, Melvin was also a basketball player at the University of Missouri. It instilled more trust in him. For a mother to just let her son move with a father I didnt spend much time with She raised me most of my life. Hikaru has been surpassed for the number one spot on Chess.com's Blitz global leaderboard. I dont look back on that. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. He was the 1994 Big Eight Player of the Year and after impressing on the court, he was elected to the intercollegiate athletics Hall of Fame at theUniversity of Missouri. His scoring talent was probably more suited for todays game as his height at his position was held against him. Every day has been a learning process for me. Maybe they didn't though, maybe they just smashed their sweaty, ugly, greasy, zit-covered faces all over their . I guess he has 2 dads. And he drove a 1959 Impalawhich he later said was named Pretty Pennyto Game 1 of the Finals. With Booker's help, his younger half-sister, who has microdeletion syndrome, will be a Special Olympics worldwide ambassador in 2020. 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. He is the only child of former professional basketball star Melvin Booker, who is Devin's father. Devin Booker got "Be Legendary" tatted on him. After the passing of his grandfather, Booker made it an emphasis to get intact. He found a role model in his father and started practicing basketball in school. Jarred Vanderbilt is Devin Booker's grandfather. Devin once ran into controversy when he asked a fans girlfriend to sit on his lap. He also taught his son some tricks of the trade he developed on the pro level. Please enter a valid email and try again. Devin Booker may be known as a professional basketball player, but it turns out his parents, Melvin Booker and Veronica Gutierrez, also have impressive careers. 3. A shooting guard, Booker received a star status after being the 13th overall draft and being selected by Phoenix Suns. 3-Point Contest: The league noticed Bookers shooting stroke immediately and invited its youngest player to participate in the 2016 Three-Point Contest. 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. The law was eventually partially struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, but the situation in the state is still contentious. They decided to forgo. Its hard to put into words how proud I am, it really is. After retiring from professional basketball in 2008, Melvin used his time to help Devin prepare for his own career and was hired as an assistant coach to his old high school, Moss Point High School, in 2011. You know the stories about the light-skinned, biracial kid, are they tough enough? 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. 1 / 3. 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. Even then, he still dedicated portions of his post-practice routine to footwork and shot-making on the block. For sure, Booker said. 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The supermodel enjoyed a trip to Mississippi with the NBA player where she was introduced to some of his hometown roots. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. Most people have been doing that all their kids life. By Vrushali Padia Published Mar 19, 2022. 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. 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 He believed that his relationship with his son would grow, too, if he finally had him by his side. After his freshman year, he joined six Kentucky teammates by entering the 2015 NBA draft. 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. Music booms through two speakers as a DJ and a hype man practice their lines, but the area is virtually deserted. Who are Devin Booker's parents? Hes learning a lot. 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. The Latino community says they will stand behind him. Booker would like to lean into that by learning to speak Spanish. Devin Booker Personal Life. 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. Its a feeling like no other. One of them shows the elder Booker then playing for the Golden State Warriors driving against, you guessed it, the Phoenix Suns.