In this episode of Elevated Game, G Wayne sits down with NBA Champion Trevor Ariza for a raw, funny, and inspiring conversation about basketball, growth, and life beyond the game. From his early days as a lanky, “Bambi-legged” teenager to becoming a lockdown defender and 2009 NBA Champion with Kobe Bryant, Trevor opens up about what it takes to last 18 seasons in the league.

The two dive into Kobe stories, trade realities, the mental side of basketball, and the lessons Trevor learned from being on some of the league’s most competitive teams — the Lakers, Rockets, and Wizards. It’s a mix of laughs, deep moments, and a few heated domino games that prove the competitor in Trevor never retired.

🔥 Highlights:

• 🏀 Trevor recalls meeting Kobe Bryant as a teen — and getting his personal number before ever joining the Lakers.
• 💭 How his late brother inspired his drive and shaped his work ethic.
• 🏆 Reflections on the 2009 championship run with Kobe and the Lakers.
• 💼 Life after the league — business moves, family, and building a legacy.
• 🔄 The truth about NBA trades, team loyalty, and learning to adapt.
• 💪 On guarding the best players in the world — including Carmelo Anthony, LeBron, and Jokic.
• 🧠 Why he says Jordan “doesn’t count” when comparing the GOATs.
• 🧒 On fatherhood, raising three sons and a daughter, and building a “family business.”
• 🁬 The intense domino rivalry that nearly derailed the interview.

Connect with Trevor: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_trevorariza/

Connect with G Wayne: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevate_w_gwayne

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elevatedgamepodcast

Executive Produced by Harold Lefty Williams, Alex Parker, Kori Davis, and Eugene Parker

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