Devin Booker
A scoring savant who rewrote his franchise's record books and forged a reputation as one of the NBA's most lethal and clutch offensive weapons.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 30·Millennials
Biography
Devin Booker entered the league as a baby-faced shooter from Kentucky, the 13th pick on a Phoenix Suns team mired in dysfunction. He responded by working in the dark, honing a mid-range game that felt plucked from a bygone era. His breakout was volcanic: a 70-point game in Boston at just 20 years old, a signal of a generational scorer arriving. He endured years of losing, his individual brilliance a bright spot in empty arenas, which only hardened his resolve. The arrival of Chris Paul transformed Booker from a pure scorer to a polished leader, catalyzing a run to the 2021 NBA Finals. He has since shattered the Suns' all-time scoring record, a testament to his durability and skill, and has become a fixture for USA Basketball, collecting Olympic gold medals. Booker plays with a simmering competitive fire, a killer instinct that has made him the centerpiece of Phoenix's championship aspirations.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Devin was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Devin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Devin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the Phoenix Suns' all-time leading scorer, surpassing the franchise record held by Walter Davis.
- Scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics in 2017, the youngest player (20) to ever reach that mark in an NBA game.
- Led the Phoenix Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals, their first appearance in 28 years.
- Won back-to-back Olympic gold medals with Team USA at the 2020 (held in 2021) and 2024 Games.
- Earned All-NBA First Team honors in 2022.
Did You Know?
His father, Melvin Booker, was a professional basketball player who had a brief stint in the NBA.
He is an avid chess player and has been seen playing on the sidelines during team flights.
He is close friends with soccer star Kylian Mbappé, with the two often exchanging social media support.
He purchased a minority ownership stake in the English football club Burnley F.C. in 2023.
“I want to be a legend. I want to be remembered. I want my game to speak for itself.”
