Trevor Ariza Blazers
Photo: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Trevor Ariza will play for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, 12 years after leaving the 17-time NBA champions.

The veteran forward shared his excitement for this development, as he is entering his 18th season in the league.

“Well, being here has always been something that I’ve wanted. 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.

There’s been a couple of times where it could have been a possibility, and it didn’t work out that. 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,” Ariza told reporters, via Silver Screen and Roll.

Ariza won the 2009 NBA championship with the Lakers. He recently agreed to an one-year deal with the 2020 NBA champions.