LOCAL Houston | The City Guide JANUARY 2015 | Page 58

Local January 2015_FINAL_002houston 12/18/14 4:23 PM Page 58

FOR HOUSTON ROCKET
TREVOR ARIZA,
HOME IS WHERE FAMILY IS
THEY SAY THE THIRD TIME’S A CHARM. NOW IN HIS THIRD
STINT IN HOUSTON (FIRST WHEN HE WAS 11 YEARS
OLD LIVING IN ALIEF, AND AGAIN AS A MEMBER OF THE
’09–’10 ROCKETS), TREVOR ARIZA FINDS HIMSELF BACK
IN CLUTCH CITY, THIS TIME WITH MORE CONFIDENCE,
DEFENSIVE ABILITIES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HIS FAMILY.
Ariza made his way to Houston during the 2009–2010 season after
a trade worth $33mil over five years using the Disabled Player
Exception the Rockets were given in exchange for injured Yao Ming.
He was then traded to the Hornets and Wizards before returning
back to Houston last July. Ariza grew up in the league. He entered the
league when he was just 19 and admits he’s learned a lot throughout
his 10-year career (more than 650 games!). Mostly, he’s learned
patience. “I definitely have more patience. I’ve learned to not …well, I
try not to wear my emotions on my sleeve. I try to stay even-keeled,
play my heart out and let the chips fall where they may.”
A true West-Coaster (he refers to 59 as “the 59” when talking
horrendous traffic), Ariza is slowly getting used to life in Bellaire.
Referred to by some as an “NBA vagabond,” Ariza says it’s his
family (his wife, 3 kids and 70lb German Shepherd, Bowser)
that really makes it home. “Having my family here is definitely
part of that – my family is the most important thing to me –
everything feels like home as long as they’re around,” he says.

ARIZA’S FIVE WORDS TO
DESCRIBE HOUSTON:
FAMILY, HUGE, THE
ROCKETS, FOOTBALL
(FOR SURE!) AND FOOD.

The small forward also attributes the team. “Just being here with the
support of the organization is great; they welcomed me in with open
arms – the coaches, front office and my teammates especially. We’re
almost like brothers,” he says of his fellow players, especially Francisco Garcia who he says he has the most in common with. He laughs
at inadvertently adding an adjective in front of the numbered highway, and says even though traffic is pretty awful, he still thinks pickup
trucks are “pretty dope.” “I have one myself. I guess I’m part of Texas culture,” he says, laughing of his lifted Chevy Silverado.

RANDOM THOUGHTS (AND FAVORITES) FROM TREVOR ARIZA

“I THINK SOME OF THE STUFF
CLUTCH DOES IS AMAZING.
I SAW HIM ON ONE OF THOSE
BIG BALLS SHOOTING FREE
THROWS – I’VE NEVER SEEN THAT
BEFORE – THAT WAS PRETTY DOPE.”
58 L O C A L | january 15

“I DEFINITELY ENJOY SEEING
BUN B AT GAMES. HE’S ONE
OF MY FAVORITE RAPPERS; HE’S
A LEGEND HERE IN TEXAS.”

“MY FAMILY LOVES DISCOVERY
GREEN – THEY JUST LIKE TO GO
OUT AND PLAY. AND THERE’S A
DOG PARK CLOSE TO MY HOUSE.”
By Jayme Lamm
Photos courtesy of the Houston Rockets