After retiring from the NBA in 2022, Trevor Ariza reportedly now finds himself entangled in legal and financial struggles.
According to gossip outlet In Touch magazine, the former Los Angeles Lakers player filed an emotional declaration, a legal procedure outlining emotional distress caused by a series of events or actions as part of his plea to lower his child support payments to his ex-wife Bree Anderson. This has not been confirmed, other than what InTouch is calling an exclusive report.
Where’d The Money Go?
At the time of their divorce, he agreed to pay $14,000 a month in child support however he is now seeking a modification alleging that Anderson does not make time for their son, Tristan.
According to In Touch, the document in his emotional declaration states, “She does not pick him up on her designated days, nor does she make an effort to have any meaningful relationship with him. Instead, I have assumed full responsibility for his care, which includes providing a stable home, meals, clothing, transportation, and other necessities.”
Ariza also listed his income as $0 following his retirement despite earning more than $116 million over his 18-season NBA career.
The former player was drafted by the New York Knicks straight out of his freshman year at UCLA. Over the years, he played for multiple teams, including the Orlando Magic from 2005 to 2007, and the Lakers from 2007 to 2009. He became a defensive player and helped the team secure the 2008-2009 NBA championship.
Ariza has two ex-wives and multiple children, Tristan and a daughter Taylor with Anderson and his eldest son with his first ex-wife, Lana Allen, Ariza is playing a new defensive role, an ex-husband accused of being abusive and juggling a mountain of bills.
Ariza is reportedly paying around $10,000 a month in child support for his other children along with $4000 in spousal support.
He listed his cash and checking account as having a negative balance of $230,000 and reported his real estate holdings being worth a negative $4.7 million.
The tabloid also explains that he spends around $37,000 a month: about $19,000 on his mortgage, about $450 a month of maintenance, $2,000 on health care expenses and another $2,000 on groceries and education separately, $1,000 utilities, $600 on his phone bill, $500 on laundry and another $500 spending on clothes, $4,300 on auto expenses and $3,300 on a car loan.
Anderson’s side of the story paints Ariza as an abuser; in one instance she claimed he choked her unconscious in front of the children over her cellphone she refused to hand over.
Although Ariza has denied the allegations, having never been formally charged with any crime, Anderson was granted a restraining order that prohibited him from interacting with her 100 yards. According to RadarOnline, reported by the same reporter from In Touch, Ryan Naumann, Ariza was forced to surrender his firearms as part of the restraining order to the LAPD, including his two Glock handguns and two AR-15 rifles.
As part of her petition, Anderson submitted multiple photos of bruises she said she suffered during their marriage.
This is not the first time Ariza has faced similar allegations; in 2020, ESPN reported that his ex-wife and mother of his first child, Allen, accused him of physically abusing their 12-year-old son, Tajh. According to court documents for Allen’s retaining order, Ariza punched their son in the arm and shoulder, and then, placed him in a chokehold.
Ariza denied the allegations, arguing that Allen had manipulated their son.
