Booker knew his father – Melvin would always remember the hideous Draft night.
For every aspiring NBA player who has made his mark in collegiate basketball, the ultimate dream is to hear their name called on NBA Draft night and finally know that their hard-fought effort has paved the way to the biggest stage. However, on June 29, 1994, Melvin Booker’s hopes were shattered when he witnessed 54 names being called, and none of them were his. Seeing his dream crumble before his eyes, Melvin described that fateful event as the ‘worst night’ in his life.
Even though his son, Devin Booker, has gone on to become the face of the Phoenix Suns franchise and one of the best young players in the Association, Melvin still can’t forget the misery he experienced on his big day. A fact that Devin truly recognizes.
Melvin was an All-American selectee
Despite averaging 28.0 points per game during his senior year at Moss Point High School and being named the best player in his class, the older Booker surprisingly failed to garner attention from top collegiate programs. It was only by chance that when the assistant coaches of the University of Missouri came to scout other players, they saw the potential of the undersized point guard and offered him a scholarship.
Playing under coach Norm Stewart, Melvin struggled to find playing time in his freshman year due to the presence of Anthony Peeler and Doug Smith. However, during the 1991-92 season, the 6’2” guard began to showcase his scoring prowess when he got more playing time, averaging 11.6 points per game on 47.5% from the field and 43.5% from beyond the arc.
Then, in the 1992-93 campaign, Melvin improved his game further, increasing his scoring average to 15.8 points per game, and earned a well-deserved selection in the First-Team All-Big Eight.
Lastly, his senior year at Missouri proved to be his most outstanding, as he evidently took his talent to the next level, averaging 18.1 points per game on 50.4% shooting from the field while also leading the team in assists and steals. Furthermore, Melvin’s leadership led the Tigers to an impressive 24-2 record in the regular season and into their first Elite Eight appearance since 1976, including victories over Wisconsin and Syracuse.
As a result of his hard-fought efforts, Devin’s dad was once again honored with a First-Team All-Big Eight selection and was also named Big Eight Player of the Year. He also made the Second Team All-American, showcasing his arguably second-best point guard in the nation at that time.
This is precisely why Melvin couldn’t bear the devastation of not hearing his name being called upon in the 1994 NBA Draft.
“My draft night was one of the worst nights ever,” Melvin said. “I felt like and thought I would be drafted. It’s unheard of for a player of the year in his conference and a second-team All-American to go undrafted for reasons I don’t even know today. I don’t look back on that. But draft night was one of the worst nights of my life.”
Devin knew his dad had come a long way and was proud of his rise to NBA stardom. However, he also knew his father couldn’t quite shake off the memories of that Draft night.
“I could tell he is still kind of hurt by it,” DBook said.
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Melvin’s professional journey is best remembered for his stints in the Chinese Basketball League and ventures in Italy, Turkey, and Russia. However, he did get a chance to live out his NBA dream, even if it was the shortest one.
During the 1995-96 season, he was acquired by the Houston Rockets, albeit with limited playing time over 11 games in the regular season, wherein he averaged 4.0 points per game. The following season, Melvin saw himself featured on the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors roster, appearing in a total of 32 games and averaging 5.8 points per game.
While his tenure in the Association might not have gone as he imagined, Melvin did make himself count among the short list of players who actually make it to the biggest league. It is safe to say that perhaps Devin’s efforts have been so evidently embraced by modern-day fans because of the perseverance shown by his father.
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