Trevor Ariza
NBA small forward and 2009 champion.
Trevor Anthony Ariza is an American former professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the NBA, primarily as a small forward. He won an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and played for nine other teams during his career.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Small forward
- Born
- 30 June 1985
- Birthplace
- Miami, Florida, U.S.
- High school
- Westchester (Los Angeles, California)
- College
- UCLA (2003–2004)
- Draft round
- 2
- Draft pick
- 43
- Drafted by
- New York Knicks
Facts from the source article.
High school and college career
Ariza attended Westchester High School in Los Angeles, where as a junior he helped lead the Comets to the California State championship alongside future NBA players Hassan Adams, Brandon Heath, and Bobby Brown. He was rated a five-star recruit and the No. 5 power forward nationally. At UCLA in 2003–04, he averaged 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and a team-high 1.7 steals, earning All-Pac 10 Freshman Team honors before declaring for the NBA draft.
Professional career
Ariza was selected 43rd overall in the 2004 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, becoming the youngest player to suit up for the franchise at 19 years, four months, and four days. In his rookie season he played 80 games, averaging 5.9 points. In February 2006 he was traded to the Orlando Magic, then in November 2007 to the Los Angeles Lakers. After fracturing his right foot in January 2008, he returned during the Western Conference Finals. In the 2008–09 season he played all 82 games, scoring a career-high 26 points against Dallas. During the playoffs he recorded a playoff career-high 21 points in Game 1 against Utah, made key steals in the Western Conference Finals against Denver, and scored 13 points in the third quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers won the championship in five games, with Ariza averaging 11.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in the playoffs.
Personal life
Ariza's youngest brother, Tajh Ariza, died at age six in 1996 after falling from a hotel window in Caracas, Venezuela. Ariza named his older son Tajh after his late brother; that son is a five-star basketball prospect. Ariza also has two children with his wife: son Tristan and daughter Taylor. He founded the Choices Mentoring program to help young African Americans with tutoring, scholarships, and counselors. His stepfather, Kenny McClary, played at the University of Florida and professionally in Australia. Ariza is of Turks and Caicos Islands and Dominican descent and once considered playing for the Dominican Republic national team.
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