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. Oops. 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. But it was also quite challenging to build a relationship with his son from afar despite a couple of visits overseas. Devin and Mya have become very close over the years and hes often seen sharing sweet moments with her. Im around [Latino culture] every day, Booker said the day after winning Game 1 of the Finals. 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. Now shes a diehard fan who makes a point to go to the players entrance before every game to welcome the team. The Latino community says they will stand behind him. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. Thats how one of Bookers representatives saw Piersten Doctor, a Navajo painter, working on a portrait of Booker last month. Eventually, Melvin ended his career to return home to coach his high school team and focus on his son. 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. So I think with the team that we have, the culture that we have, that coach Monty has put together, this is the best position that weve been in since Ive been here, to make those dreams and aspirations come to life. 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. He did eventually make it to the NBA, first playing 11 games for the Houston Rockets during the 1995-96 season. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. It means a lot to me. Booker has come to embrace the Mexican side of his family as the support of the Valleys culture has driven him to educate himself more on his familys background and learn more about his lineage. 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. But I had many conversations with my dad. At just 20 years old, Devin Booker became the youngest NBA player to record a 70-point game. Thats part of the reason I grind so much, Devin Booker said. 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. I gave it some time. Doesn't booker have more wins against luka overall? After having Devin in 1996, she was often the one to. Born In: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, See the events in life of Devin Booker in Chronological Order, (American Professional Basketball Player Who Plays as the Shooting guard), https://www.nba.com/suns/news/suns-draft-points-view-devin-booker#gref, https://hoopshype.com/2017/03/11/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-devin-booker/, Devin Booker was born on October 30, 1996, in Michigan, to an AfricanAmerican father, Melvin Brooker, and his MexicanAmerican and Puerto Rican partner, Veronica Gutirrez. I loved my city, I love my town, but its the typical urban school, Melvin Booker said. 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). Noting Bookers Mexican heritage is part of thatbut its also a responsibility Ochoa feels on a personal level. Other Latinos dream of bringing Booker home for dinner to introduce him to their most favorite Mexican dishes. One even stopped behind it and crossed himself. Devin visited Missouri twice, but his dad says he didnt pressure him to go there. 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. Latin-American ambassador: Booker's maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico, a fact Booker has grown to. A native of Cananea, Sonora, a city four and a half hours south of Phoenix in Mexico, Ochoa has been calling Suns games since 2004. Devin Booker was born to play basketball as his father is a former professional basketball player. You could walk the same hallways, be a good kid and fulfill your dreams. I shared a locker room with [Hakeem] Olajuwon, [Clyde] Drexler and Sam Cassell.. Devin Booker spends his sprawling $26.6 million fortune to live a lavish life. Their goal was to have it ready for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, but getting it made wasnt easy. Most people have been doing that all their kids life. They needed the painting in five hours for a Fathers Day gift. While Devin grew up, his fathers lifestyle influenced him greatly. He ended up meeting Devins mother, Veronica, when he was playing for the Grand Rapids Mackers in the 1995-1996 CBA season. His maternal grandfather was born in Mexico but migrated to Michigan. 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. From his upbringing to being Gigi Bryant's favorite player, here's some things to know about the Hawks star. Its hard to put into words how proud I am, it really is. 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. 18 0 comments Best Add a Comment More posts from r/nbacirclejerk 78K subscribers NumerousPainting354 2 days ago JOTY 2.4K 111 oldmatesatan 3 days ago Chet Holmgren injury update: no longer in a boot, it looks like his Lisfranc injury to his right foot is healing nicely. Devin played basketball with his dad and his friends. 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.. Welcome to r/nbacirclejerk, where we offer only the most le epic XD discussions on le interwebz :p, Press J to jump to the feed. 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. 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. The lack of representation within the league has encouraged Booker to carry the mantle for people of Mexican heritage. 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.. Davon lives a single life. 204. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. One fan I encountered just before Game 2 said she researched Bookers heritage after seeing his face, doing a double take, and saying, Esa cara no se ve gringa (That face doesnt look gringa). 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. But now that Im a professional and Ive been around this lifestyle, I understand how hard it is. Ochoa said the data shows that people are listening to his broadcasts on the other side of the border, and the Suns organization has tried to connect with the Latino community, too, sending basketballs and uniforms to kids in Sonora while also continuing to make and sell the Los Suns jerseys that were part of the Noche Latina collection that the league created for cities with large Latino populations. Devin Booker scored 24 points, Deandre Ayton had 22 and Chris Paul added 18 for Phoenix. Its something thats not too late to learn because, at the end of the day, this is what makes up me, said Booker. Melvin Booker averaged 28 points as a senior at Moss Point High and signed with the University of Missouri. 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. Bookers rise from 18-year-old rookie to two-time All-Star has ushered in a new era for the Suns. Just because it was a Mexican thing, Lugo said, some places just said no right away, and they gave me a weird look.. Id do anything for them. His scoring talent was probably more suited for todays game as his height at his position was held against him. And it turned around. Devin Booker has Mexican roots, making his stardom even sweeter for the Valley's Latino community. His grandfather was born in Los Nogales, Mexico, right near the Texas border. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would grow as a person from being at a school where most students didnt have his blessings. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would grow as a person from being at a school where most students didn't have his blessings. 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. The preservation of a basketball legacy strengthened Melvin Bookers relationship with his son. Devins mother is Victoria Gutirrez, a Mexican-American who has two other children. I appreciate my dad actually telling me to make the move. Playoff ready: Any questions about how Bookers scoring would translate to the postseason were answered swiftly. It's Hispanic Heritage Month. Im definitely going to rep that side of my heritage, always., (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images). I always say Im fortunate enough to live around it, see it around the stands, and see it around the city. 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. That was the only reason I put Devin there. Mac McClung checking his new followers. Booker has said that before he was drafted by Phoenix in 2015, he hadnt really been able to connect with his Mexican roots. Did you get to the weight room?, He didnt understand. In the 1990s, Latinos made up just 20 percent of Phoenixs population. 1.4K. He always helped my mom out when she was in need, which was really important for me. It was special. I think for those of us that are Hispanic, there is even another layer to that. Jarred Vanderbilt is Devin Booker's grandfather. 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