Over a decade ago, a fresh faced Trevor Ariza was an integral part of the Los Angeles Lakers' title hopes. Now LA hopes he can channel that same energy as a grizzled veteran.
Ariza has quietly entered his 18th season in the NBA, but his two-year stint with the Lakers was easily the highlight of his career. At the time, the UCLA alum was seen as a young prospect on the rise on an Kobe Bryant-led LA team that made two NBA Finals appearances. Now 12 years later, could this be his full circle moment winning another title in LA?
Ariza spoke out on his Lakers return during his introductory press conference, revealing it boiled down to two places dear to his hear – Miami and Los Angeles.
Via Silver Screen and Roll:
“Well, being here has always been something that I’ve wanted,” Ariza said in his introductory press conference on Friday. “To be honest, there were only two places that I actually wanted to be, Miami being one, and L.A. being the other. But to be able to come back home, be with my family, be a part of this tradition is something that you don’t really get too many chances to do it twice.
Though Ariza had been linked to the Lakers numerous times since his departure in 2009, nothing ever came to fruition. But perhaps it was never the right time, which is exactly how he explains his signing.
“There’s been a couple of times where it could have been a possibility, and it didn’t work out that,” Ariza said of returning to the Lakers. “So I figure it just wasn’t the right time. But everything finds itself when the time is right, and apparently this is the right time for me to be here with this group.”
Welcome home, Trevor Ariza.
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