His mom even has the same last name as us: Gutirrez.. Being able to touch those types of communities in this area makes all this that much better, said Booker. It ended up being one of the best decisions Ive ever made. Devin Booker hasnt disappointed. Devin initially refused to go to Mississippi. Id do anything for them. Ayton also had 11 rebounds. Finding a place that was willing to make the flag, however, proved more difficult. 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. It was hard for me to understand then why we couldnt communicate so much. The only real time with communication I had with him were the two to three months out of the year when I would go down to Mississippi [in the summer]. I wasnt going to make the decision for him.. He stated that he fully . Melvin Booker told his son that he needed to have a high basketball IQ since he didnt own elite athleticism and running ability. Beginning his career as a sportswriter, Benner then served with the Pacers for 28 years, retiring last season. Noticing his immense talent, Melvin tried hard to bring his son back to Mississippi permanently. But Melvin Booker said the relationship and bond grew so much closer during his sons three years at Moss Point. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Latin-American ambassador: Booker's maternal grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico, a fact Booker has grown to. Booker is aware that representing the Hispanic community in the NBA carries some pressure and is fully embracing the opportunity to prove that with a focused mindset and a strong work ethic, anything is possible no matter what race or nationality. Bookers former coach in Phoenix, Earl Watson, shares a similar background with his maternal grandparents hailing from Mexico. This sounds so clich, but it really hasnt set in with me. Kevin Durant shows no signs of rust in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new teammates. If you have a dream and you have the work ethic to match that dream, anything is possible.. At the end of the day, hes my thoughtful, caring, giving, lovable, funny, charming son., The NBA has only had four players come directly from Mexico Horacio Llamos, Eduardo Najera, Jorge Gutierrez and Gustavo Ayon. I had to convince them that he had to move to Mississippi if he wanted to move to that next level, Melvin Booker said. When Booker was initially left off the 2020 All-Star roster, Damian Lillard voiced his hopes that Booker would take his spot when the Blazers star suffered an injury that would keep him out of the game. Devins mother is Victoria Gutirrez, a Mexican-American who has two other children. Its a night I will never forget, he said. He ended up at the fourth spot in the race for the 2016 Rookie of the Year award. At this point, that community knows who he is. Off the bench: Bookers star status was built on a bench players foundation in college. Jarred Vanderbilt is Devin Booker's grandfather. With his fathers influence, Devin naturally fell in love with the game of basketball as a child. The then-18-year-old finished the game with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes. Maybe they didn't though, maybe they just smashed their sweaty, ugly, greasy, zit-covered faces all over their . Devin ended the season with an average of 22.1 points per game. The more Booker researched his Hispanic background, the more he saw the similarities between his own ideals and the Mexican heritage within his bloodline. 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. 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. Doesn't booker have more wins against luka overall? Devin quickly became a very good shooter and continued to grow to 6-foot-6. To the Gutirrezes, both of whom are first-generation Americans with Mexican parents, Bookers background is a source of pride. lxkandel06 22 days ago. 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.. Melvin Booker also thought the fast-paced, trash-talking and tough style of basketball would make his son better, too. She just always talked about his character and how loving he was, and just how he was the backbone of the family.. 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. Originally from Mississippi, he became a great player in high school before getting signed to play for the University of Missouri. Did you get to the weight room?, He didnt understand. He believed that his relationship with his son would grow, too, if he finally had him by his side. Media reports claim that while in college, he had had many affairs. His grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico where he and his family stayed for decades. My favorite part about being Mexican is the culture and being a part of the heritage, Booker said. 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). The Lakers legend laughed about that sequence in postgame comments to the media, but he shared a private moment with Booker himself. 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. Ever since he was 8 months old he was coming with me in the summertime. 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. Read Kevin OConnors grades of every first-round pick. Now, shes his biggest fan. As of early 2021, Davon has an estimated net worth of around $500 thousand. Broadway_Baller 6 days ago. If youre Mexican and you made it to the NBA, I can too, So, just trying to inspire in that type of way and keep representing the heritage. In June 2015, he was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 13th overall pick. Theres so much to learn about the Mexican culture, but Devin Booker says its never too late. The split came as a surprise to many considering Devin's attendance at Kourtney Kardashian's wedding to Travis Barker. 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. Telephone conversations between father and son werent the norm during the elders playing days since international calls were very expensive. I fell in love with the city. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would be much taller than him. Unfortunately, the NBA teams didnt love Melvin Booker during the 1994 NBA draft. And Booker is no longer a youngster trying to prove he belongs in the league; he has the nine-figure contract befitting a franchise cornerstone and is playing at a level that could find him making his first All-Star team. Everyone wants to see a little bit of themselves in the athletes that theyre watching on TV, Vigil said. The couple did not marry but remained on good terms. 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. Booker has said in the past that this has been much easier for him to do in Phoenix, a city with a population. 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. 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. And it turned around. Devin averaged 30.9 points per game as a senior despite being double- and triple-teamed during the 2013-14 season at Moss Point. 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. Devin Booker collected the 2018 Three-Point Contest title. After the passing of his grandfather, Booker made it an emphasis to get intact with his heritage and the surrounding Valley community gave him the perfect environment to do so. 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. It's Los Suns for a reason, right? The Suns, including owner Robert Sarver, spoke out against the bill and wore their Los Suns jerseys in solidarity with the community. Veronica is Puerto-Rican and Mexican American, and Melvin is African-American. "She wanted to meet Book," Suns coach Monty Williams said. You drive around the city, you look into the stands at the game and you see it. The 1994 Big Eight Conference Player of the Year averaged 18.1 points, 4.5 assists and two 3-pointers per game during his senior season. With Booker's help, his younger half-sister, who has microdeletion syndrome, will be a Special Olympics worldwide ambassador in 2020. He ended up meeting Devins mother, Veronica, when he was playing for the Grand Rapids Mackers in the 1995-1996 CBA season. Thats changed after his years in the cityas has the place he holds in many Latino Suns fans hearts. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. Booker was always aware of his Mexican heritage but never felt a strong desire to delve into that side of his background until he lost his Papa. 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. Apart from this, her rare medical condition called Chromosomal Deletion Syndrome has also drawn more attention. I guess he has 2 dads. Hes learning a lot. 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. Booker is introduced last among the starters during Suns games; he gets the loudest cheers, and his jerseys are ubiquitous. Devin Booker, 70 points - March 24, 2017. I think when youre young, you dont really understand it that much. After having Devin in 1996, she was often the one to. He was very supportive of everything that I did and still do today. Im finally to the age where I realize I can ask questions and shes breaking it all down to me, Booker, 23, said. But Booker says it was here in Phoenix where he first experienced the Mexican culture. 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. Devin Booker was born to play basketball as his father is a former professional basketball player. Davon is the eldest brother of an American basketball player Devin Booker who plays for Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker got "Be Legendary" tatted on him. 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. 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.. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. I dont look back on that. Being able to touch those types of communities in this area makes all this that much better.. But we did the best that we could.. Letting Devin leave Michigan was by far the hardest decision of my life. Booker was too young to fully understand the significance of the visits, since communications with his grandfather, Jesus Gutierrez, were stunted by a language barrier Devin spoke no Spanish, Papa got by with some broken English. Valdes says hes a diehard Suns fan, so finding out about Devin Bookers Mexican roots made him hopeful. Booker's grandfather immigrated from Nogales, Mexico, to Michigan where the 2020 All-Star ultimately grew up. He found the Blazer in Utah and dubbed it "Uncle Larry.". He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. Everything we did was competitive, Devin Booker said. Only two photos of him exist in the leagues Getty/NBAE archives. READ MORE: D-I-S-R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Widespread appreciation grows for Devin Booker after regular season indifference. 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. Doctor said it wouldnt be his best work, but hed do it. Its 11 p.m. on the night before Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals, and the space in front of Phoenix Suns Arena is brightly lit. 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. These fans might have not been at the game, but that didnt mean they couldnt keep the party going after. He found a role model in his father and started practicing basketball in school. The Suns are back in Mexico City this weekend to take on the Spurs again but the team and Booker are in different places. 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. 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