Trevor Ariza Article

The game wasn't starting for another three hours. The parking lot was empty and the fans hadn't yet left their homes. The players and media were just making their way into the building and a familiar noise could be heard. It was the sound of a basketball being swallowed by a net. Over and over again.

The noise was coming from Trevor Ariza, who was already in his warm-ups, alone on the court hoisting jumpshot after jumpshot. The sweat drenched swingman was intensely focused on the rack of balls by his side and the basket that stood twenty feet away.

This was a regular occurrence back in 2006, when Ariza was a member of the Orlando Magic . At that point in Ariza's career, his jumpshot was inconsistent and needed tweaking, which is exactly what he aimed to do during these afternoon workout sessions.

To anyone who has witnessed his outstanding work ethic and drive, it’s clear that he isn’t satisfied with mediocrity. He isn't happy just being in the league and isn't content with being a career role player. Ariza is constantly working to improve his game because he wants more than that.

“Everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to be a starter, be an All-Star, be whatever, be the best that they can be. That's what I'm trying to do,” he says determinedly.

Where does this motivation and focus come from? Over time, part of it developed as more and more doubters questioned aspects of his game. His jumpshot, his ball handling, and his skinny frame were just several things that kept Ariza from being the total package according to critics.

But the main source for Ariza’s drive and dedication come from a tragic incident that happened thirteen years ago. His father, Ken McClary, played college basketball at Florida before having a successful career overseas. During one of the family’s trips to Venezuela in 1996 to watch him play, Ariza’s two younger brothers Tajh, 6, and Kenny, 9, were in the hotel with a babysitter. The children began wrestling and horsing around near a window. Somehow, Tajh fell to his death thirty stories below.

Trevor, who was only eleven at the time, would be haunted by Tajh’s death for a very long time. "It was real hard," he says. "My little brother was my best friend. We slept in the same bed together every night. We did everything together. For my mom — for anyone to lose a child — it was very hard. And Kenny actually saw him fall. He had nightmares for a long time.” Flying home from Venezuela was just as hard "knowing my little brother was in a box on that plane," says Trevor.

During these dark times, Ariza was forced to mature. He turned to basketball and lived for a year with John Fischer, founder of the Hoop Masters Camp. "That tragedy spurred him and really made him headstrong, and he [had] something he really want[ed] to prove to himself," says former NBA star and family friend Reggie Theus. "There was a period of time when he could've gone either way. He could've gone on the dark side. But he's got a very strong mom who's been there for him the whole time. They pulled each other through."

Quickly, Trevor fell in love with basketball. It was a stress reliever, a peaceful retreat, and something that came very easy for him. He was blessed with an astounding vertical leap, long arms, and the game in his genes. This was a formula for success and Ariza quickly showed promise.

At Westchester High School in Los Angeles, Ariza's raw offensive skills weren't an issue as he was able to dominate simply with his athleticism. He nearly averaged a triple double and led the Comets to two California state titles. The lanky slasher was soon the talk of college scouts across the country. A five star recruit and ranked the fifth best forward in the country by Rivals.com, Ariza would eventually sign with his hometown team, the UCLA Bruins.

At UCLA, Ariza’s skill set was similar although he was now playing on the perimeter rather than inside. He was still able to score by attacking the rim and developed a reputation as a remarkable athlete who could finish at the rim in traffic. But outside of the paint, he contributed little offensively. Defensively, however, Ariza could pick the passing lanes, block shots, and showed that he could greatly impact a game on both ends of the floor. He was named to the All-Pac 10 Freshmen Team and there was no doubt that he had potential.

Feeling confident, Ariza declared himself eligible for the 2004 NBA Draft after that inaugural season with the Bruins. This move put Trevor under a microscope as analysts and writers across the country said that he needed more time at the college ranks if he wanted to be successful. One draft capsule predicted that he would “be yet another phenom who made the jump too soon.” But he was sure that he would be drafted and felt ready to play with the best in the world.

He worked out for fifteen teams and they liked what they saw. "Every team I worked out for was surprised," he would later say. Despite being pleasantly surprised by Ariza, none of the fifteen teams selected him in the first round. Instead, he was picked forty-second overall by the New York Knicks , slightly lower than he had hoped for. “That was my motivation, knowing that I would have to work hard for anything I got, so I came out with a chip on my shoulder,” says Ariza. He was ready to make a contribution and silence his critics. The problem was, Larry Brown had other plans.

Ariza would remain buried on the depth chart in the Big Apple for most of his time with the Knicks. Fans saw his potential and liked what he brought defensively but he simply didn't fit into the team's plans.

He was sitting in a barbershop when his cell phone vibrated. It was Isiah Thomas letting him know that he had been traded to the Orlando Magic along with Penny Hardaway's expiring contract in exchange for Steve Francis.

“It’s always hard to leave a place and your teammates,” Ariza would later say, “but I got put in a good situation.” That good situation in Orlando is where Trevor started to come into his own and realize his potential.

Emerging as the team’s top perimeter defender, Ariza received quality playing time. He instantly became a fan favorite because of his energy, constant hustle, and jaw dropping dunks. He became a YouTube sensation with impressive slams over top shot blockers such as Alonzo Mourning, Emeka Okafor, and Jermaine O’Neal. Averaging nearly nine points per game in just 22 minutes, teams began calling for the young forward.

But when Stan Van Gundy was hired in Orlando, the team immediately changed its strategy. The offense would now feature shooters that could spread the floor for Dwight Howard and be able to score from anywhere on the court. Despite Ariza’s hard work, he simply wasn’t a good enough perimeter scorer to make an impact under Coach Van Gundy. His minutes were cut in half and he was averaging career lows across the stat sheet.

It was clear that while Ariza had a lot of potential, his jumpshot was still holding him back. Taking the best offer, Magic general manager Otis Smith dealt Trevor to the L.A. Lakers in exchange for Maurice Evans and Brian Cook. The deal was a surprise to Magic fans that hated to see Ariza go, but understood the reasoning behind the move.

Back in Los Angeles, Trevor was living the dream. Not only was he back home with his family and friends, he was playing for his favorite team. Growing up only twenty minutes from Staples Center, he had been a huge Lakers fan for as long as he could remember. Donning the prestigious purple and gold, Ariza was done cheering for the Lakers and ready to contribute.

It was after this trade that Ariza realized what he had to do. No matter what it took, he had to improve his jumpshot. For the first time in his life, he couldn’t coast by with his athleticism. He needed to get the gym even earlier. He needed to push himself farther. He had to do what Trevor Ariza does best. Work hard and prove the doubters wrong.

It was no secret that adding a jumpshot to his offensive arsenal would make him a very scary and complete player.

“When he perfects his jump shot, he will be a great talent in the NBA,” said Theus in an interview with USA Today during Ariza’s college days.

Earlier in his career, when asked what aspect of his game he needed to improve, Trevor responded, “Probably working on my jump shot because it's going to help our team get better -- it will spread the defense and make me more versatile and dangerous.” But talk is cheap and Ariza knew this.

The improvements began taking place when he injured his foot last January. For two months, he was forced out of the lineup and wasn’t able to be very active. He was, however, able to shoot around and spend countless hours in the gym molding his jumpshot. This hard work was evident when, after returning to the lineup, Ariza could consistently knock down midrange jumpers consistently. He shot 52.4% from the field and was quickly improving as a scorer.

But when Phil Jackson challenged him to improve his three point shot last summer, that’s when the small forward began perfecting his stroke. Ariza, never one to back down from a challenge, responded better than anyone could have asked. Upon returning to the team’s training camp in Hawaii, Trevor had not only become an adequate long range shooter, but a terrific one.

During the regular season, he was fourth on the Lakers in three pointers made and after hitting just nine threes in the first four years of his career, he hit sixty-one this season. Ariza emerged as one of the Lakers’ best shooters while still bringing the defense and energy that led to the early success in his career.

Ariza is averaging 12.0 points per game and is shooting 61.1% from three point range during this year's playoffs, the third highest percentage among players who have attempted at least ten threes this postseason. He is fourth in the playoffs in three pointers made with eleven, trailing only Ray Allen, Chauncey Billups, and Dwyane Wade.

He can hit threes with a defender in his face or during crunch times as evidenced by his late three during the Lakers’ Game Four victory over the Utah Jazz . As time was winding down, Kobe Bryant found Ariza at the top of the key during a crucial final possession and he made the Jazz pay. Bryant, along with his other Lakers teammates, have learned to trust Trevor’s new found skill and know how important his shooting is to the team.

Meanwhile in Orlando, the Magic are shooting 31.7% from long range this postseason and Ariza’s eleven threes would lead the team. Their struggles from beyond the arc are a big reason that they have struggled against the Philadelphia 76ers . In New York, Mike D’Antoni’s offense attempted a record 2,284 threes this season and Ariza would have fit in perfectly with their new style of play.

While Trevor’s former teams likely miss the 24-year-old, this is his specialty. If there is a flaw in his game, he’ll work hard to fix it. If someone criticizes his skills, he won’t rest until they eat their words. This is what Trevor Ariza does and what he will continue to do. Over and over again.

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_feature_article/201/20090430/arizas_hard_work_finally_paying_off/

 

Thanks bro, glad you enjoyed it.

Yeah, I've liked Trevor since his days with Orlando. It still kills me... Brian Cook and Maurice Evans.

 

Great read! Ariza is such a humble guy. Ill be honest for awhile this season I missed Radmans longe range ability. Ariza has made me forget about the space cadet!

 

Repped, loved the article. :O

 

Yup such a great steal by the Lakers. The article was a good one and it sucks that his brother died when all of them were young.