It only took Booker one season of college basketball to prove he was ready for professional basketball. In March 2017, Booker proved that he was among basketball’s elite by becoming the youngest player to score 60 points in a game.
This piece will focus on Devin Booker’s parents, Melvin Booker and Veronica Gutierrez.
Contents
- 1 Devin was raised by his Hispanic mother while his father played basketball in Europe.
- 2 Devin fully appreciated his Latino heritage after joining the Phoenix Suns
- 3 Devin’s father taught him to use intelligence and athleticism to get ahead in the game.
- 4 Devin has two brothers from other relationships of his mother.
Devin was raised by his Hispanic mother while his father played basketball in Europe.
Devin Booker was born on October 30, 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Melvin Booker and Veronica Gutierrez. Veronica is Puerto Rican and Mexican American, and Melvin is African American. Melvin was a basketball player who had made a name for himself as a star point guard at the University of Missouri. He met Veronica while playing for the Grand Rapids Hoops in Veronica’s hometown of Grand Rapids.
Their relationship produced their only child, Devin. Despite displaying immense talent, Melvin went undrafted in the 1994 NBA Draft. He said unbeaten which was one of the most painful moments:
“My draft night was one of the worst nights of my life. I was with my family at home. I wanted to and I thought they would recruit me. It’s unheard of for a conference player of the year and a second-team All American to go undrafted for reasons I’m not even aware of today.”
Melvin played in the NBA for the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors, but feels teams didn’t give him enough time to prove himself. About a year after Devin’s birth, Melvin decided to try his luck in Europe. He had seasons in Russia, Türkiye and, above all, in Italy.
Melvin tried his best to keep in touch with Devin, but expensive international calling rates and the time difference made communication difficult. Devin told him unbeaten that he couldn’t understand why Melvin had a hard time maintaining constant communication, but his experience as an NBA player opened him up to a different perspective. He explained:
“It was hard for me to understand then why we couldn’t communicate as much. But now that I am a professional and have lived this lifestyle, I understand how difficult it is. This is a good life here in the NBA. I can only imagine what it’s like on the other side of the water.”
Devin and Melvin spent valuable time together during summers in Mississippi. She credits her mother for allowing her to develop a relationship with Melvin. “I owe him everything,” Devin said. ESPN. “She really cared about me, and she never cared about basketball, as long as I was happy. Having your mom’s support like that is amazing.”
Devin fully appreciated his Latino heritage after joining the Phoenix Suns
Booker’s traces his Latino roots to his maternal grandfather, who was born in a border town called Nogales in Mexico. He said that he fully appreciated his Latino heritage after joining the Phoenix Suns.
“I’m around [Latino culture] every day,” Booker said after a game. “I always say I’m lucky to live near him, to see him in the stands and to see him around town. Being able to touch those kinds of communities in this area makes it all that much better.”
Being one of only two active NBA players of Mexican descent has earned Booker many fans. Suns radio host Arturo Ochoa is one of Devin’s loudest fans. He spoke with the ringer about his appreciation of Devin’s Latino roots. He said:
“Imagine the pride of having a guy on your team who scores 40 points in a playoff game and has Latino blood? Mexican blood like you? Imagine how I have to paint that picture on the airwaves so that those of us who are listening to each other who are Mexicans, feel proud of a guy who shares the blood of being an NBA star and who could be the most important player in the city. From Larry Fitzgerald.
Devin’s father taught him to use intelligence and athleticism to get ahead in the game.
Barry Gossage/NBAE
Devin naturally became interested in basketball because of his father. As he got older, he eventually convinced his mother to let him visit Melvin in Europe. Melvin retired in 2008 and returned to his alma mater Moss Point High School as an assistant coach. He turned down a one-year extension offered by Armani Jeans Milano so he could return to the United States to train Devin.
Melvin tried to convince Devin to join Moss Point High School because he felt it would benefit his career. However, Devin spent his freshman year at Grandville High School. Not willing to give up, Melvin continued to whisper in Devin’s ear about the benefits of Moss Point. Devin didn’t want to leave his mother or his friends, but Melvin insisted that moving to Mississippi was the only way to get to the top.
An added incentive was that Devin and Melvin would strengthen their bond by staying together. Eventually, Devin relented and agreed to join her father at Moss Point. However, after a difficult first day, Devin considered moving back to Michigan. He said unbeaten that you are glad you chose to accept the challenge:
“The respect I received from my family and from everyone in the city made me want to stay. And she turned around. It ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I fell in love with the city. I would do anything for them. I appreciate my father telling me to make the switch. It was better for my life.”
Devin also thanks his mom for letting him get on with his career. “It takes a powerful woman to do that,” she said. “For her to allow it to happen is incredible.” Melvin and Moss Point taught Devin to use his mind to overcome his physical deficiencies. Devin told him ESPN which credits Melvin with instilling in him the idea that IQ would put him ahead of the game.
“I was never the fastest, or the guy who could jump the highest,” Devin said. “But I always wanted to be the smartest.”
Devin has two brothers from other relationships of his mother.
us weekly described Verónica Gutiérrez as a ‘billionaire cosmetologist’. Gutierrez is single and has three children from three previous relationships: Davon, Devin and Mya.
Davon Wade, four years older than Devin, graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Business Administration and works as a real estate agent.
Mya Renee Powell is six years younger than Devin. She was born with a genetic chromosome disorder called microdeletion syndrome. Devin said in a video for the NBA that she plays to put smiles on Mya and Veronica’s faces.
“To have someone in the corner like my sister, I don’t know if I would be here without her,” Booker said.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn