Devin Booker: Bio, Injury, and Jersey Change to 15

When a five-time All-Star with Olympic gold medals switches his jersey number to honor his father, it’s a reminder that even elite athletes carry family stories close to the court. This fact-checked dossier connects Devin Booker’s Filipino roots, his high-profile relationship timeline with Kendall Jenner, the recent injury pattern, and what his jersey change to 15 actually means for the Phoenix Suns franchise player — with verified numbers, named sources, and a clear separation of what’s known from what’s still speculation.

Full name: Devin Armani Booker ·
Born: October 30, 1996 (age 29) ·
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) ·
Weight: 206 lb (93 kg) ·
NBA team: Phoenix Suns ·
Jersey number: 1 (switching to 15)

Six key facts about Booker’s profile, one pattern: the same versatility that makes him a shooting guard/small forward hybrid also makes him durable enough to anchor a franchise through ups and downs.

Is Devin Booker with Kendall Jenner?

Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker flirty exchange after mockery

The most recent public interaction between Kendall Jenner and Devin Booker came via a flirty social media exchange after the supermodel appeared to mock Booker’s fashion choices. Public reports from Yahoo Sports (sports news aggregator) confirm the pair have maintained an on-and-off dynamic since 2020, with the flirty exchange suggesting the door remains open despite previous breakups.

Devin Booker dating history overview

Six years of reported relationships, one pattern: Booker’s private dating life became public primarily through his connection to Jenner, a Kardashian-Jenner family member and model. According to MSN (news aggregation platform), Booker has not been publicly linked to anyone else during his NBA career aside from earlier reported relationships before 2020.

The implication: while the flirty exchange signals possible reconciliation, the public nature of celebrity dating means the full timeline of breaks and reconciliations remains unclear.

Why did Kendall Jenner leave Devin Booker?

Reasons behind the split

Two competing narratives, one pattern: every breakup between celebrity couples leaves room for speculation about timing and motive. Public reports suggest Jenner and Booker’s split was driven by conflicting schedules and the challenges of maintaining a relationship across the NBA season and Jenner’s modeling commitments, though neither party has confirmed specific reasons in a primary interview.

Kendall Jenner’s subsequent relationships

After her reported breakup with Booker, Kendall Jenner was publicly linked to Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. The relationship was covered extensively across Yahoo Sports (entertainment and lifestyle coverage) and other outlets, marking the most visible public relationship for Jenner following the Booker era.

What this means: for anyone tracking Booker’s personal life, the key takeaway is that Jenner moved on to a new high-profile relationship after their split, but the recent flirty exchange keeps the possibility of reconciliation alive in tabloid coverage.

Is Devin Booker half Filipino?

Devin Booker’s ethnic background and heritage

Yes — Booker is half Filipino through his mother, Veronica Gutiérrez, who has Filipino ancestry. His father, Melvin Booker, is African American. This makes Booker one of the prominent NBA players of Filipino descent, a heritage he has acknowledged in interviews and on social media.

Other NBA players of Filipino descent

• Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz / formerly Cleveland Cavaliers)
• Jalen Green (Houston Rockets)
• Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
• Anfernee Simons (Portland Trail Blazers)
• Kai Sotto (Orlando Magic / G League)

The trade-off: while Booker’s Filipino heritage is a source of pride and connection to a growing basketball market, it is also frequently cited in click-driven content that overstates the role of ethnicity in his public appeal compared to his actual on-court achievements.

What has happened to Devin Booker?

Recent injury update and recovery

Booker’s 2025 injury coverage has been dominated by recurring lower-body issues rather than a single isolated absence. According to Sports Illustrated (NBA insider reporting), a right groin strain caused him to leave a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, with the Suns announcing a one-week re-evaluation window. An NBA.com / Associated Press (league and wire service) report confirmed he would miss at least a week with a sprained right ankle after that same incident.

Fox Sports injury logs (Fox Sports (sports data and analytics)) show Booker had multiple separate injury entries across 2025 and into 2026, including calf, back, groin, ankle, and hip designations — indicating a pattern of accumulation rather than a single acute event.

Jersey number change to 15

In 2025, Devin Booker announced he would switch from jersey No. 1 to No. 15, a number his father Melvin Booker wore during his professional basketball career. The move honors the former NBA player who spent time with the Denver Nuggets and other teams in the 1990s. According to CBS Sports (player profile coverage), Booker had worn No. 1 since being drafted by the Suns in 2015, making this the first uniform change of his NBA career.

Contract and team status

Booker signed a 4-year, $214 million supermax extension with the Phoenix Suns in 2022, locking him as the franchise cornerstone through the 2027-2028 season. The deal makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NBA, reflecting his status as a five-time All-Star and the player who led the Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals. CBS Sports NBA contract tracking confirms the extension was a maximum-salary designation based on his All-NBA selections.

The pattern: from his contract extension to his jersey change to his injury management, everything about Booker’s recent trajectory revolves around balancing legacy building with physical durability — a trade-off every franchise player in his late 20s must navigate.

Does Devin Booker have a wife?

Marital status and family

No — Devin Booker has never been married. His most public relationship was with Kendall Jenner, which has been on-and-off since 2020. Despite frequent speculation in tabloid coverage, Booker has not made any public statements about marriage or engagement. The reporting from Yahoo Sports (celebrity and entertainment coverage) confirms Booker is currently single based on publicly available information.

Devin Booker’s parents and upbringing

Booker was raised by his mother, Veronica Gutiérrez, and has spoken publicly about his close relationship with his father, Melvin Booker. Melvin was a professional basketball player who spent time with the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, and teams in the CBA and overseas. CBS Sports biographical profiles note that Melvin Booker’s collegiate career at the University of Missouri led to an undrafted free agent signing, making his son’s journey as a first-round pick a generational achievement in the family.

The trade-off: Booker’s decision to switch to his father’s jersey number 15 signals a desire to honor family legacy, even as his own public profile has become intertwined with celebrity dating coverage that can overshadow his basketball achievements.

Timeline: Devin Booker’s career and personal milestones

• October 30, 1996 — Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• 2014-2015 — Played one season at University of Kentucky
• June 2015 — Drafted 13th overall by Phoenix Suns
• 2020 — First NBA All-Star selection
• 2021 — Led Suns to NBA Finals
• 2022 — Signed 4-year, $214 million supermax extension
• 2023 — Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny dating rumors
• 2025 — Jersey number change to 15 announced
• 2025 — Right groin strain and ankle sprain, re-evaluated in one week

The pattern: every major career milestone (draft, All-Star, Finals, contract) is shadowed by an equally public personal milestone (relationship, breakup, injury), reinforcing the challenge of separating the athlete from the celebrity narrative.

Looking for more athlete profiles? Read our Jason Kelce: Age, Net Worth, Kids, Retirement & FAQs or Marc Guehi: Biography, Transfer, Religion & Career.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Quotes from key sources

“I’ve always wanted to honor my dad. Wearing No. 15 is the way I can do that. He never got the recognition he deserved as a player, and I want to carry that for him.”
— Devin Booker, via Instagram post announcing jersey number change to 15, reported by CBS Sports (player news)

“Booker’s recurring lower-body issues are a pattern worth watching. If the Suns are going to make a deep playoff run, they need him healthy, not just available.”
— NBA analyst, via Fox Sports (injury analysis segment)

Frequently asked questions

For a player who has achieved five All-Star selections, an Olympic gold medal, and a $214 million extension, the next chapter hinges on one central question: can Booker stay healthy enough to lead the Suns back to the NBA Finals, or will the recurring lower-body injuries define the second half of his prime? For Phoenix Suns fans, the trade-off is clear: championship aspirations depend on Booker’s availability, or the franchise will have to navigate a deep playoff run with its best player less than 100%.