You drive around the city, you look into the stands at the game and you see it. 70-point special: On March 24, 2017, Boston led Phoenix by as many as 26 before Booker, 20, surged in the second half, hitting on drives, pull-ups and 3-pointers. Being here in Phoenix has made me aware of living in the culture.. lxkandel06 22 days ago. 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. Valdes says hes a diehard Suns fan, so finding out about Devin Bookers Mexican roots made him hopeful. Everywhere we went, everyone knew him. That made me want to learn about myself much more honestly because I just hadn't been around. A couple of things that I learned from my grandfather were about the hard work and dedication to a craft. Finding a place that was willing to make the flag, however, proved more difficult. This particular remark carries special significance for Ochoa. Melvin Booker also thought the fast-paced, trash-talking and tough style of basketball would make his . He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My relationship with my grandfather was unbelievable, Booker said. 204. For her to allow it to happen is unbelievable.. Thats how she ended up at a Suns game a few years ago on Latino Night and found out about Bookers heritage. Me knowing Devin, hes going to continue to work hard and continue to try to get better.. Weve already felt the need to defend him for five or six years, because of the trajectory of his career and the way he was talked about early on, Vigil said. Its hard to explain. He convinced Gutierrez and Devin on a move to Mississippi before his sophomore year in high school so that he could be trained and prepared to play at a big-time college. 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. Were going to see him do and be more involved in our community.. Devin Booker was born on October 30, 1996, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Booker's grandfather immigrated from Nogales, Mexico, to Michigan where the 2020 All-Star ultimately grew up. So, just trying to inspire in that type of way and keep representing the heritage. Devin once ran into controversy when he asked a fans girlfriend to sit on his lap. But it was also quite challenging to build a relationship with his son from afar despite a couple of visits overseas. 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. Devin quickly became a very good shooter and continued to grow to 6-foot-6. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasnt been able to in years and his knees still hurt. Being able to touch those types of communities in this area makes all this that much better, said Booker. This is a good life here in the NBA. 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. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. The preservation of a basketball legacy strengthened Melvin Bookers relationship with his son. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. It was better for my life.. 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. So good, it should come with a spoiler alert. 3-Point Contest: The league noticed Bookers shooting stroke immediately and invited its youngest player to participate in the 2016 Three-Point Contest. Learn more about the Hall of Fame career of the legendary point guard. 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. Not that there's anything wrong with that. His grandfather was an immigrant from Nogales, Mexico where he and his family stayed for decades. It was all his decision, Melvin Booker said. Melvin Booker also thought the fast-paced, trash-talking and tough style of basketball would make his son better, too. Kevin Durant shows no signs of rust in his 1st game with Phoenix, meshing quickly with his new teammates. At first, just being out of your comfort zone was a thing for me. I dont look back on that. At just 20 years old, Devin Booker became the youngest NBA player to record a 70-point game. I felt like and thought I would be drafted. LoWE11053211 21 days ago. Bookers grandfather immigrated from Nogales, Mexico, to Michigan where the 2020 All-Star ultimately grew up. Devin visited his father during his summer holidays, in Moss Point, Mississippi, a place that had a significant black population. But Devin didnt want to leave his mom and his friends. Of course, her being my mother, she said, Just let me know when [youre] coming back. Try a week on us. The son of former basketball player Melvin Booker, [3] Devin is a three-time NBA All-Star and helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals 2021. Symbolic start: After being drafted 13th overall, Bookers NBA debut took place in Phoenix on Oct. 28, 2015. She made it happen. READ MORE: D-I-S-R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Widespread appreciation grows for Devin Booker after regular season indifference. After his freshman year, he joined six Kentucky teammates by entering the 2015 NBA draft. 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. Phoenixs diversity hasnt made it immune from Arizonas complicated relationship with Latinos (especially those who have immigrated to the country). "She wanted to meet Book," Suns coach Monty Williams said. Its hard to put into words how proud I am, it really is. Booker is now able to reflect on some of his most memorable moments growing up, many of which share close Mexican ties with his family. Thats part of the reason I grind so much, Devin Booker said. He's a former NBA player himself, born on August 20, 1972, and is the reason Devin is the star he is today. A lot of them, at that point, didnt know that Booker was of Mexican descent, Ochoa said. 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. So, that's my job.. From 1997-2008, Melvin Booker made a living playing most notably in Italy with stints in Turkey and Russia. I didnt tell him at all, but I called my mom that night telling her that I might be back soon. There was a family legacy at Moss Point as Devin's father and grandfather also attended the high school. 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. Gerardo can rattle off facts about Booker like hes a walking Wikipedia page: Bookers mom is Mexican American, and his grandfather was born in Los Nogales, Mexico, a town near the Texas border. You have the same issues and same problems you have at most urban schools. Who are Devin Booker's parents? If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Ever since he was 8 months old he was coming with me in the summertime. Devin had the kind of relationship with him that was distant but you always knew he was there, Bookers mother wrote in an email. But now, Ochoa is almost levitating as he calls an NBA Finals game surrounded by a deafening crowd. Get to know them better here. 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. 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. 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]. 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 think I gained kind of a following there.. His grandfather was born in Los Nogales, Mexico, right near the Texas border. 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. Booker returned in 2018 and won the contest, besting Thompson with a record 28 points in the final round. 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 For sure, Booker said. I would definitely, my moms rice, her sopa, cheese, and the tortillas, that's all you need, said Elena Beltran. The Suns wear Noches neBA Nike City Edition uniforms with Los Suns across the chest and Somos PHX near the size tag at the bottom of the jersey. Devin Booker scored 24 points, Deandre Ayton had 22 and Chris Paul added 18 for Phoenix. 3. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. His dad couldnt be prouder. Devin, a three-time NBA All-Star, is a professional . Did you get extra shots up? 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). During a ceremony in October 2013, at the Moss Point High School, Devin announced that he had been chosen by the University of Kentucky.. . Devin Booker, 25, has made quite the impression on the basketball court as part of the Phoenix Suns, and it seems his skill and hard work runs in the family. To let you know, Devin's maternal grandfather was one of the immigrants from Nogales, Mexico. Hed play video games with me. Luka Doncic's father, Devin Booker's grandfather, attended his first Mavericks game tonight . He met Veronica while mining a minor-league route to the league with the Grand Rapids Mackers of the Continental Basketball Association. Originally from Mississippi, he became a great player in high school before getting signed to play for the University of Missouri. Melvin Booker also believed that his son would be much taller than him. When I was a kid, I was always on the go, either outside playing basketball or something, so when it was time when my mom wanted to go to the other side of Michigan to hang with my Mexican side of the family, it wasnt really a priority for me. Everyone wants to see a little bit of themselves in the athletes that theyre watching on TV, Vigil said. 1.4K. 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. Its not one culture.. I can only imagine how it is across the water. Mexican blood like you? Ochoa said in Spanish. 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. In a downtown Phoenix alley, sandwiched between two streets named after U.S. presidents, stands a snapshot of the citys Latino culture. 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. Latino fans, in particular, lit up when they saw it. Its helped me out a lot, he said. He was just a really caring guy, Booker said of his grandfather in a recent telephone conversation with The Athletic. 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. 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. Mya supports her brother during the matches and is an inspiration to Devin. I loved my city, I love my town, but its the typical urban school, Melvin Booker said. Mac McClung checking his new followers. Melvin Booker played in the American minor leagues for the Hartford Hellcats and Pittsburgh Piranhas and had two stints with Grand Rapids. Especially with him embracing it, I mean, it brings us more attention toojust knowing that hes Hispanic and hes not afraid to show it.. Sometimes I would go up to [Michigan] to watch him. The Suns, including owner Robert Sarver, spoke out against the bill and wore their Los Suns jerseys in solidarity with the community. 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. 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