Posted on 06/14/2026 4:34:15 PM PDT by dennisw
NBA champion and 18-year veteran Trevor Ariza has left fans shocked after detailing his precarious financial position in the wake of a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife.
Ariza, who was drafted by the Knicks and won a ring with the Lakers in 2009, made an eyewatering $116 million during his career, but now his money troubles have been laid bare in court four years after he hung up his cleats.
While many would perhaps have expected a player of his caliber to be set for life, Ariza - now 40 - made just $2,316 last month as a trainer for the disabled.
According to an income and expense declaration filed in court, which was first reported by TMZ, Ariza earns an average of $6,000 per month in his current role.
In addition to his earnings - which appear to fluctuate from month to month - he reported $667 in earnings from an investment in Buffalo Wild Wings.
Ariza says he had $50,000 in cash and bank accounts, and $2.5 million in real estate property, bought during his lucrative playing career.
His expenses, meanwhile, have also been laid bare in the documents: $2K on healthcare, $2K on groceries, $2K on utilities, $500 on cleaning and laundry, $2K on education, $500 on clothes, and $2K on auto expenses and insurance.
That $11.6k in expenses quite clearly dwarfs the $2,316 he claims he made last month, as his bitter legal battle with ex-wife Bree Anderson Ariza continues.
Earlier this year, Ariza spoke out about his financial struggles, admitting he is broke and in need of help. At the time, he claimed he had a bank account sitting at negative $230,000.
California divorce?
Indeed.
Who writes this crap?
“Cleats”
Old country western song “She got the gold mine, I got the shaft.”
1. Basketball players don’t wear “cleats”
2. “A fool and his money…”
Most of it he spent on Cadillacs, bling and hoes, the rest he just wasted.
That $11.6k in expenses quite clearly dwarfs the $2,316 he claims he made last month, as his bitter legal battle with ex-wife Bree Anderson Ariza continues.
only winners are the lawyers..................
That is one classic tune right there.
Yup- regardless- he never prepared for life after pro sports, which is his fault...
BTW- i know of gold diggas who go after broke has beens that were never pro athletes....people best make proper choices with those they procreate with....
The ex claimed at the divorce that there was physical abuse, that he tried to choke her, and punch her. She is supposed to have provided photos. He also threatened to change the locks on the home so she wouldn’t have access. This seems to be their biggest concern: “The couple also argued over whether they could continue their high-living lifestyle post-divorce.”
The only way in which that would make sense if he had investments which had performed so spectacularly poorly that their current aggregate value was $230K less than the total cost basis.
A former athlete by the name of Orenthal James Simpson found himself in a similar situation and came up with a very effective plan.
“Old country western song “She got the gold mine, I got the shaft.””
Or:
Bobby Bare Jr.
“Alimony, alimoney, I thought I bought steak, and it was all baloney!”
https://www.letssingit.com/bobby-bare-jr.-lyrics-alimony-cmg9k63
I read the article as him being wealthy (owning millions in real estate), but earning little in monthly income. Income, not wealth, is what child support is based on. Also bear in mind that all of this info is what he filed in court (minimizing as much as he can to lower his child support). So I’m not jumping on the bandwagon of claiming he’s dumb with money.
“The couple also argued over whether they could continue their high-living lifestyle post-divorce.”
Gold digger
Score!
It takes a lot of bad decisions to pee away $116 million in less than 20 years.
Those were my thoughts. There is a huge difference between assets and income. My guess is there is a trust somewhere that holds his assets and hasn’t paid anything in quite a while.
Ariza was a decent rotation player. Not particularly high caliber.
????
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