Devin booker parents6/19/2023 ![]() He'd give Devin in-game adjustments, dissecting the game and information at a pro level. It helped that Melvin was always one of Devin's coaches, whether it was a head coach or an assistant on his high school or AAU teams. Melvin taught his son how to lift weights, how to eat right, how to put in time after practice with one-on-one drills. Melvin was sharing NBA-level coaching with his son - something not many, if any, of Devin's peers in Mississippi were receiving. So, whenever we were together, it was like catching up." "I missed a lot of Devin's life because I was overseas, and those seasons are like 10 months long over there. "We were like best friends, together every day," Melvin said. For the next few years, Melvin was more than a dad. That's when Melvin stepped up his game as a father.ĭevin moved to Mississippi from Michigan to attend high school - and so his dad could train him. Devin was having success against the likes of Julius Randle, Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Gordon, Jahlil Okafor and Jabari Parker - all of whom went on to NBA careers. Melvin, who played in 32 NBA games in two seasons from 1995 to 1997, started to have an inkling Devin could follow his footsteps to the NBA during the summer AAU circuits early in high school. "It was my duty as a father, a former player, to show him the way." "It was all his passion, his love for it," Melvin said. When Devin was around 12 or 13, Melvin sat him down and asked a question that shaped the rest Devin's life: Did he want to play basketball or was he playing because he thought his dad wanted him to play?ĭevin settled any doubt: "Dad, I want to play." "I just spent every moment with him," Melvin said. While Melvin fine-tuned his game in the sweltering heat of the Delta, Devin's basketball foundation was laid. NBA's Bookers | NHL's Domis | MLB's Hayes | NFL's Pittmansĭevin Booker's journey to the Phoenix Suns started long before he or his father, who played in the NBA and overseas, knew it had begun.ĭuring Melvin's offseasons in Mississippi, Devin would accompany his father to the gym, watching him shoot, work out and play pickup. in the NFL to get an idea of what it's like to have a father who's played at the highest level and how it might help. Heading into Father's Day, we checked in with second-generation combos Melvin and Devin Booker in the NBA, Tie and Max Domi in the NHL, Charlie and Ke'Bryan Hayes of MLB and Michael Pittman and Michael Pittman Jr. What was it like to grow up with a father who played sports professionally? Did they push their sons to carry on their legacy? Did the kids have any advantages in their goal to become professional players? MLB had the most second-generation players in 2001 (2.9%) but dropped to 1.9% in 2021. The NBA is next with 4.9% (up from 1.6%) and the NFL was at 3.4% last season (up from 1.8%). ![]() ![]() The NHL tops the list as 6.1% of players who took part in at least one game last season have a father who played in the league, up from 1.5% in 2001. In fact, in three of those four sports, the number of second-generation players has increased notably this century. More than a few players in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB have followed in the footsteps of their dads. That's certainly the trend in professional sports. NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, Indianapolis Colts, Phoenix Suns, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Pirates Like father like son: How former pros helped their sons make it in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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