Lakers’ Trevor Ariza Out For 2 Months Following Surgery

Trevor Ariza in 2015
Trevor Ariza at the TopSpin Charity Ping Pong Tournament in 2015. Photo by Mediapunch/REX/Shutterstock (4909285ak)

The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Wednesday that shooting guard/small forward Trevor Ariza received an “arthroscopic debridement procedure” on his right ankle earlier in the day. As a result, the 36-year-old veteran will be ruled out of action for eight weeks while he recovers. Only then will his ability to return to the court be evaluated.

Ariza was one of 11 players that the Lakers added to their ranks in the offseason. He missed the team’s offseason training camp due to his injury.

This is Ariza’s second tenure with the Lakers. His first stint in LA, which lasted from 2007 until 2009, saw the player win the 2009 NBA Championship alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

After playing for the Miami Heat last season, Ariza was lured to the Lakers by Russell Westbrook, who joined Washington shortly before. Ariza signed a veteran’s minimum contract with the team.

Last season, Ariza averaged 9.4 points and 4.8 rebounds for the Heat, appearing in just 30 of the team’s 72 games.

Currently, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to rebound after losing their most recent preseason game 117-105 to the Phoenix Suns. Neither LeBron James nor Russell Westbrook featured in the game.