Trevor Ariza, born in Miami in 1985, is a former NBA player whose basketball career included stints with multiple teams, a championship win, and personal challenges including custody disputes and allegations of abuse.
Trevor Anthony Ariza, born on June 30, 1985, in Miami, Florida, comes from a basketball-oriented family. His mother, Lolita Ariza, and stepfather, Kenny McClary, both have ties to the sport, with McClary playing collegiately at the University of Florida and professionally for the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League. Tragedy struck the family in 1996 when Trevor’s youngest brother, Tajh, passed away after falling from a hotel window in Caracas, Venezuela. Ariza attended Westchester High School in Los Angeles, where he competed on the basketball team that secured the California State championship during his junior year. Recognized as a top prospect by Rivals.com, he earned a five-star rating and was ranked as the fifth-best power forward and eighteenth-best player nationally in 2003. After completing high school, Ariza enrolled at UCLA, where he averaged 11.6 points per game as a freshman and earned a spot on the All-Pac 10 Freshman Team before declaring for the NBA Draft. The 2004 NBA Draft saw Ariza selected as the 43rd overall pick, and he began his professional career with the New York Knicks. As a rookie, he participated in 80 games, contributing an average of 5.9 points per contest. In February 2006, he was traded to the Orlando Magic, where, during the 2006–2007 season, he appeared in 57 games and averaged 8.9 points per game. A subsequent trade sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers in November 2007. However, his progress was interrupted in January 2008 when he suffered a foot fracture, forcing him to miss several months before returning in late May during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. He made an immediate impact, scoring within his first minute back on the court. The Lakers advanced to the 2008 NBA Finals but fell to the Boston Celtics. In the 2008–2009 season, Ariza played all 82 games, achieving a personal best of 26 points in a March 2009 matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers secured the 2009 playoffs with a 4–2 series win and ultimately defeated the Orlando Magic to claim the NBA championship. Later that year, in July 2009, Ariza signed a five-year contract worth $33 million with the Houston Rockets. He set a new career scoring record of 33 points in an October 2009 game against the Portland Trail Blazers and recorded his first career triple-double in the final game of the season. Off the court, Trevor Ariza married Bree Anderson in 2018, and the couple welcomed two children, daughter Taylor and son Tristan. Their marriage faced difficulties when Bree filed for divorce in September 2022, seeking primary custody of their children. Trevor countered by requesting joint custody. Shortly afterward, Bree obtained a temporary restraining order against him and was granted full custody. She alleged that Ariza had subjected her to abuse during their marriage, though Trevor denied the claims and attempted to secure a restraining order against Bree, which was denied. Bree later sought approximately $60,000 per month in combined child and spousal support, which included $23,000 in temporary child support and $36,000 in temporary spousal support. Ariza also has an older son named Tajh, named in memory of his late brother, with Lana Allen. In September 2020, Lana Allen accused Trevor of physically abusing their son Tajh. However, a judge ruled in a subsequent hearing that Tajh was not in any physical or emotional danger while in his father’s care. Ariza continues to provide $13,000 per month in child support for Tajh. Throughout his high school and collegiate career, Ariza received several distinctions. In 2003, he was named California Mr. Basketball and selected as a Second-team "Parade" All-American. In 2004, he was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman Team, and he earned an NBA championship title in 2009. In November 2017, Trevor Ariza listed his expansive residence in Tarzana, California, for sale at a price of $3.5 million. The 8,600-square-foot property features five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, and a home theater. Additional amenities include a guesthouse, swimming pool, and a sport court on the grounds.