Sometimes the best moments in sports happen when you least expect them. Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has built an incredible highlight reel over his career, but one magical playoff moment from 2022Â always stands out in basketball fans’ minds.
That unforgettable sideline interaction with a baby during the playoffs became an instant classic, and it’s a memory Booker himself cherishes as a “special moment.”
What Made Devin Booker’s Baby Fist Bump So Memorable?
On April 19, 2022, the Suns were hosting the New Orleans Pelicans in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs. Devin Booker found himself dribbling down the court with the clock ticking down in the first quarter.
Running out of space and time, he was forced to throw up a fadeaway jump shot from the corner, which sent him falling backwards and landing near the courtside seats.
What happened next became one of the most heartwarming episodes in NBA playoff history. As Booker tried to pick himself up from the fall, he turned and found a baby right in front of him.
“I’m about to stand up. I turn, and there’s a baby in my face. So I was just like, ‘What’s good homie?'”
— Throwback to Devin Booker breaking down the time he gave a baby a fist bump. 🤣✊
(via @NBA)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 20, 2025
“I remember this,” said Booker as he looked back on the video. “About to stand up, I turn and there’s a baby in my face. I’m just like, ‘what’s good homie.'”
The 17,071 fans in attendance had already gone wild after Booker hit his shot to cut the deficit to two points. But when the Suns All-Star noticed the baby in front of him, he stayed cool and composed, lifting up his hand to give the little one a fist bump. The crowd erupted in delight at the wholesome interaction.
Why Is This Moment Still Going Viral Today?
The popular shot and celebration resurfaced on social media this week in a post from “Hoop Central.” The clip has already grabbed plenty of attention and racked up over 385,000 views, proving that genuine moments like these never get old.
But the story doesn’t end there. Booker confirmed that he met the family and baby again later, leaving them with a special piece of memorabilia from the occasion.
“I’ve seen them again. They blew up the picture. I signed it for him. It was a special moment,” Booker said.
The interaction perfectly captures what makes courtside seats so special. As Reggie Miller once said about his historic sideline interactions with filmmaker Spike Lee during the New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers playoff series, “You pay a lot for those seats, you’re going to be a part of the game now.”
That’s exactly what happened to one lucky baby that day. He didn’t just watch the game, he became part of it.
While the family may have expected entertaining and exciting high-level basketball that night, they left with something even better: an unforgettable moment they’ll cherish for a lifetime.
