Devin Booker is switching to jersey number 15 for the upcoming NBA season to honor his father, Melvin Booker.
What happened?
The Phoenix Suns announced the change on Father's Day, revealing that Booker's new number is a tribute to his father.
Booker's father, Melvin, played collegiately at Missouri and professionally while wearing No. 15 throughout his career.
Why it matters for Devin Booker
The number 15 holds special meaning for Booker, who has always considered it a family number.
Booker's aunt also wore the number 15, making it a significant part of their family's basketball legacy.
What comes next?
Booker has spent most of his basketball career wearing the number 1, but he has always had the number 15 in the back of his mind.
He even chose the number 15 for his player in video games, showing his long-standing affinity for the number.
As a freshman at the University of Kentucky, Booker wore the number 1, but his teammate Willie Cauley-Stein wore the number 15.
In the NBA, veteran Marcus Morris already had the number 15 when Booker arrived in Phoenix.
But now, with the number 15 available, Booker is making the switch to honor his father and his family's basketball legacy.
The decision is a meaningful one for Booker, who has always looked up to his father as a role model.
Melvin Booker's highlights from his playing days at Moss Point and Missouri have inspired Devin to work hard and pursue his own basketball dreams.
Devin Booker got a taste of what it's like to wear the number 15 on the world's biggest stage when he represented the US at the Olympics.
His father, Melvin, was proud to see his son wearing the number 15 and competing at the highest level.
The number 15 is more than just a number to Booker - it's a symbol of his family's love and support for the game of basketball.
Booker's decision to switch to the number 15 is a heartfelt tribute to his father and his family's basketball legacy.