BOOKER Devin

General
MOVING TO MISSISSIPPI
He grew up with his mother in Grand Points, MI, United States of America, but would spend his summers with his father Melvin in Moss Point, Mississippi. Devin moved there permanently in the eighth grade because his father, who played in the NBA, advised him that it would benefit his basketball career, although he had second thoughts after a difficult first day at his new school. "I didn't like it all. I didn't tell him [his father] at all, but I called my mom that night telling her that I might be back soon. Of course, her being my mother, she said, 'Just let me know when [you're] coming back. I'm ready for you'. But I stayed because of the mindset I had my whole life was just never giving up. I gave it some time. The respect I received from my family and everyone in the city made me want to stay. And it turned around. It ended up being one of the best decisions I've ever made. We all had an understanding that it would be the best decision for me reaching my dreams. For her [his mother] to allow it to happen is unbelievable." (ESPN YouTube channel, 10 Feb 2021; theundefeated.com, 22 Nov 2016)

NBA DRAFT
He was selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 2015 NBA Draft as the 13th overall pick. (basketball-reference.com, 09 Jul 2021; ukathletics.com, 01 Jan 2015)

TATTOO
He has a tattoo on his left forearm of a message Kobe Bryant wrote on his shoe after a game they played against each other in 2016. The tattoo reads 'Be Legendary' and he got it in honour of Bryant after he passed away in January 2020. (essentiallysports.com, 09 Jul 2021; espn.com, 10 Feb 2021)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador. He was inspired to become a part of the project as his younger sister Maya has DiGeorge Syndrome. (specialolympics.com, 01 Jan 2021)