COVER STORY { by karen werner } All-Star THE MAR/APR 2022 | 46 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA Why Devin Booker is one of the NBA’s most philanthropic players

D evin Booker gets it. He understands the suburbs and the city. He is of-the-minute cool but reveres the old school. He lives the high life but understands what matters. He was born to do this. Booker was raised in Grandville, Michigan, where he lived with his mother, Veronica Gutiérrez, while his father played pro basketball overseas. Although his parents never married, they were dedicated to raising Devin jointly. His dad, Melvin Booker, played in the NBA for two seasons in the 90s and spent 11 years playing in Europe and Asia. Then, he did something unexpected. He turned down a two-year contract so he could return to his hometown of Moss Point, Mississippi, to train his teenage son himself. Yes, he wanted to help Devin become the best technical player he could be, but Melvin had an additional goal. An African-American, he wanted his only son to leave the suburbs and come South to train with him and learn a different style of play. Booker’s mother agreed. A Mexican-American, Gutiérrez wanted her son to know both sides of his heritage and worked hard to keep father and son connected. She had met Melvin back when he was playing for the Continental Basketball Association’s Grand Rapids Hoops and was now a cosmetologist and single mom raising two other children, one with special needs. Her instinct was to let Devin go with his dad. Booker’s move from a white Midwestern community to the Deep South of his father’s childhood was pivotal. He soaked up his dad’s lessons and earned the respect of his teammates. His play improved, but the transformation was something more. After a standout season at the University of Kentucky, Booker declared for the NBA draft. Devin Booker’s family has supported his dreams his whole life, so it is no surprise that they play a role in his philanthropy, too. Shown here are shots of Booker with his father, mother, younger brother and maternal grandfather.