Meet Devin Booker’s mom, Veronica Gutiérrez, and her influence on his NBA journey
Veronica Gutiérrez is a Mexican-American cosmetologist and makeup artist best known as the mother of Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker. Born in Puerto Rico to a father from Los Nogales, Mexico, she raised three children as a single parent in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her steady support and family values shaped Devin's character long before he became an NBA star. Devin celebrated her mother on Facebook in 2016, saying:
My mom helped me become a better player and person. Proud to do my part for the women in my life.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Veronica Gutiérrez was born in Puerto Rico; her father was originally from Los Nogales, Mexico, giving her mixed Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage.
- She has three children: Davon Wade (born 17 February 1993), Devin Booker (born 30 October 1996), and Mya Renee Powell (born 2002).
- Veronica and Melvin Booker were never married; she raised Devin primarily in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- The Phoenix Suns selected Devin with the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft at age 18.
- Her youngest daughter, Mya, has 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DiGeorge syndrome), directly inspiring Devin's role as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador.
Profile summary
Full Name | Veronica Gutiérrez |
Gender | Female |
Birth Place | Puerto Rico |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Mexican and Puerto Rican (Hispanic) |
Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) |
Weight | 121 lbs (55 kg) |
Marital Status | Unmarried |
Children | 3 (Davon Wade, Devin Booker, and Mya Renee Powell) |
Occupation | Cosmetologist, make-up artist |
Who is Veronica Gutiérrez?
Veronica Gutiérrez was born in Puerto Rico. Her father originally hailed from Los Nogales, Mexico. She moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan when she was young. Grand Rapids became her long-term home.
She studied cosmetology at a Michigan-based college and became a certified beauty consultant. Her services include nail art, facials, and makeup application. Despite her son's NBA fame, she keeps a deliberately private life and has no known public social media presence.
What is Devin Booker's mom's nationality?
Veronica Gutiérrez is Mexican-American. She was born in Puerto Rico to a father of Mexican origin. This gives her a mixed Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage.
Devin Booker's ethnicity reflects both sides of his family. He inherits his mother's Hispanic roots and his father's African-American background. This makes him of mixed ethnicity.
Source: UGC
Who is Devin Booker's father?
Devin's dad is Melvin Booker, a former professional basketball player from Moss Point, Mississippi. He attended the University of Missouri, where he won the Big Eight Conference Player of the Year award in 1994. Despite his talent, he went undrafted in the 1994 NBA Draft.
Melvin did play in the NBA. He suited up for the Houston Rockets during the 1995–96 season. He then played for the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors in 1996–97. His NBA career was brief. He built a long career internationally, playing across Italy, Russia, and Turkey before retiring in 2008.
He and Veronica met when he was playing for the Grand Rapids Hoops in the Continental Basketball Association around 1995–96. They never married. After retiring, the basketball legend encouraged sending Devin to Mississippi to train under his guidance, a decision that proved pivotal to Devin's career.
Are Devin Booker's parents still married?
Source: Getty Images
No. Veronica Gutiérrez and Melvin Booker were never married. They met while Melvin was playing basketball in Michigan in the mid-1990s. After their relationship ended, Veronica raised Devin primarily in Grand Rapids. Melvin was largely absent during Devin's childhood due to his international basketball career in Asia and Europe.
Veronica's three children
Veronica is a mother of three: Davon Wade, Devin Booker, and Mya Renee Powell. Here is a breakdown of their profiles and what they do for a living.
Davon Wade
Davon Wade was born on 17 February 1993. He is Devin's older half-brother. Davon graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Business Administration.
He works as a luxury real estate broker in Arizona. He also serves on the board of directors of Phoenix Suns Charities, which funds education, healthcare, and basketball initiatives across Arizona. When Devin was drafted in 2015, Davon relocated from Michigan to Phoenix to support him.
Devin Booker
Source: Getty Images
Devin Armani Booker was born on 30 October 1996 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He moved to Moss Point, Mississippi after his freshman year at Grandville High School in Michigan. His father had been hired as an assistant coach there.
At Moss Point High School, Devin averaged 30.9 points per game as a senior. He finished as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,518 points. He was named a McDonald's All-American in 2014.
Devin played one season at the University of Kentucky, winning the SEC Sixth Man of the Year award. The Phoenix Suns selected him 13th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Mya Renee Powell
Mya Renee Powell was born in 2002. She is Devin's younger sister. Mya has 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, also known as DiGeorge syndrome. The condition can cause mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. Mya has been one of the most powerful influences in Devin's personal and professional life.
Devin Booker's Special Olympics work
In April 2020, Devin was named a Special Olympics Global Ambassador. The announcement came four years after he had first begun supporting Special Olympics Arizona through local clinics and events. Devin said this about her sister following the recognition:
"I've celebrated the accomplishments and witnessed the challenges my sister Mya has experienced as a person with intellectual disabilities."
The NBA star has invited Special Olympics participants to NBA Draft Lottery events. He has organised basketball clinics for local athletes in Arizona. The values Veronica instilled in her family, of advocacy, loyalty, and showing up for those you love, are visible across all of it.
Source: Getty Images
Latest news
Devin Booker was selected as a 2026 NBA All-Star, continuing his run as one of the premier guards in the league. He averaged 24.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game in the 2025–26 season. The Suns finished 45–37 and made the play-offs, losing in the first round to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Looking ahead to the 2026–27 season, Booker is switching his jersey number from No. 1 to No. 15. He has become the Phoenix Suns' all-time leading scorer, a milestone Veronica has witnessed from courtside.
FAQ
- What nationality is Devin Booker's mom? Veronica Gutiérrez is American by nationality. She has mixed Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage — born in Puerto Rico, with a father originally from Los Nogales, Mexico.
- What is Devin Booker's dad's ethnicity? Melvin Booker is African-American. He was born and raised in Moss Point, Mississippi.
- Are Devin Booker's parents still married? No. Veronica Gutiérrez and Melvin Booker were never married. They co-parented Devin from separate households after their relationship ended in the mid-1990s.
- Who is Devin Booker's father? His father is Melvin Booker, a former professional basketball player. He played briefly in the NBA and had a long international career across Europe and Asia.
- How tall is Veronica Gutiérrez? She stands 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) tall. She weighs approximately 121 lbs (55 kg).
- How many children does Veronica Gutiérrez have? Veronica has three children: Davon Wade (born 1993), Devin Booker (born 1996), and Mya Renee Powell (born 2002).
- What does Veronica Gutiérrez do for a living? She is a certified cosmetologist and makeup artist. Her services include nail art, facials, and make-up application.
- What is Devin Booker's ethnicity? Devin Booker is of mixed ethnicity. He inherits his mother Veronica's Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, and his father Melvin's African-American heritage.
Devin Booker's mom, Veronica Gutiérrez, is a Mexican-American makeup artist and cosmetologist. She has three children and has been a source of support and encouragement in their lives.
Yen.com.gh recently published an article on Zach Wilson's mom, Lisa Wilson. Zach is an American professional football quarterback.
His mother, Lisa, is an American fitness instructor, personal trainer, chef, social media influencer, and businesswoman. She is also a mom of six. Discover fascinating details on her early life, career, and family.
Source: YEN.com.gh
