Trevor Ariza
Photo: Los Angeles Lakers/YouTube

Los Angeles Lakers newcomer Trevor Ariza is yet to play his first regular season game with the purple and gold after getting injured during preseason.

So far, the 36-year-old small forward was limited to watching his team play from sidelines. While there is no timetable for Ariza’s return, that time is getting closer.

During a recent press conference, he was asked to share his thoughts about the Lakers season so far and what he sees from the team.

“Of course, any time that you’re on the court or when you’re a competitor period, you just feel like you give your team a better chance of winning when you’re out there,” Ariza said. “But this team is extremely talented, has a lot of different weapons.

“We knew it takes time to build chemistry, it takes time to put things together and we haven’t done it with the full roster yet. I bring a completely different element to this team.

“So hopefully when I am able to participate, Kendrick is able to back and play who gives us another different element to this team. The things that we do, the little things that we do can kind of put our team together.

“Like for example, throughout my career I’ve been like a piece that you can just plug in and do a bunch of different things and make a difference. So whenever I get on the court, that’s what I’m looking to do.”

Last year, Ariza played 30 games for the Miami Heat, averaging 9.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28 minutes per game.