Trevor Ariza Reveals 2021-22 Lakers Didn’t Work Because They Were F****** Old

Trevor Ariza lays bare the Lakers' Achilles' heel—age. Veteran players struggled to adapt, hindering the team's cohesion and thwarting championship aspirations in the 2021-22 season.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

The 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers faced significant challenges during the NBA season, and Trevor Ariza has now provided a candid assessment of why the team struggled to find success. With an average age of 31.7 years, the Lakers were the oldest team in the league, and this demographic reality became a significant hindrance to their performance. Speaking frankly about the Lakers’ shortcomings, Ariza highlighted a critical issue—the team’s age.

“We were f*cking old. You got all players that are like super super vets. You can’t ask Melo to go dive on the floor for a loose ball or you know chase Anthony Edwards around for like 40 minutes.”

“You not gonna get that outta him. You’re not gonna ask Dwight to come off the bench and play 15 mins, when in his mind he can contribute more. You are not getting Bron off the court, that’s never gonna happen.”

“When you have things like that and all those elements, it’s hard to win.” 

The Lakers boasted a roster filled with seasoned veterans, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Dwight Howard, and Ariza himself. Ariza emphasized the limitations of relying on players with extensive careers, noting the difficulty in expecting individuals like Carmelo Anthony to make hustle plays or Dwight Howard to accept a reduced role off the bench.

Lakers Roster (2021-22 Season)

Carmelo Anthony: 37 years

LeBron James: 37 years

Dwight Howard: 36 years

Trevor Ariza: 36 years

Rajon Rondo: 35 years

Wayne Ellington: 34 years

Darren Collison: 34 years

D.J. Augustin: 34 years

DeAndre Jordan: 33 years

Russell Westbrook: 33 Years 

Kent Bazemore: 32 years

Avery Bradley: 31 years

Anthony Davis: 28 years

Malik Monk: 23 years

Austin Reaves: 22 years

The challenge, according to Ariza, lay in managing the expectations and capabilities of a roster filled with players accustomed to more prominent roles and minutes.

The Lakers’ struggles were evident throughout the season, and despite the star-studded lineup, they failed to secure a playoff berth. The inability to find a cohesive balance between veteran leadership and on-court contributions ultimately derailed the team’s championship aspirations. Ariza’s candid acknowledgment sheds light on the complexities the Lakers faced, serving as a post-mortem explanation for a season that fell short of expectations.


The 2021-22 Lakers Were Also Marred By Injuries

The 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers faced not only the challenge of an aging roster but also the significant obstacle of injuries to key players. Despite their veteran-laden lineup, the Lakers showcased resilience early in the season, maintaining a 16-13 record midway through December. However, their promising start took a hit when both Anthony Davis and LeBron James succumbed to substantial injuries, derailing the team’s momentum.

LeBron James missed a significant portion of the season, sitting out for 26 games, while Anthony Davis faced an even more extended absence, sidelined for 42 games. The absence of the Lakers’ dynamic duo had a profound impact, as the team struggled to maintain its earlier form without its two primary stars.

The repercussions were palpable as the Lakers tumbled down the Western Conference standings, dropping out of the top 6 and even out of playoff contention. The absence of key players highlighted the team’s dependence on LeBron and Davis and underscored the challenges of sustaining success amid injury setbacks.

The downturn in performance led to intensified scrutiny on Russell Westbrook, who faced undue criticism for the team’s struggles. Additionally, the head coach, Frank Vogel, paid the price for the disappointing season, losing his job as the Lakers sought a new direction following their playoff absence. Injuries, coupled with the team’s aging roster, ultimately proved to be insurmountable obstacles for the 2021-22 Lakers.

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Vishwesha Kumar is a staff writer for Fadeaway World from Bengaluru, India. Graduating with a Bachelor of Technology from PES University in 2020, Vishwesha leverages his analytical skills to enhance his sports journalism, particularly in basketball. His experience includes writing over 3000 articles across respected publications such as Essentially Sports and Sportskeeda, which have established him as a prolific figure in the sports writing community.Vishwesha’s love for basketball was ignited by watching LeBron James, inspiring him to delve deeply into the nuances of the game. This personal passion translates into his writing, allowing him to connect with readers through relatable narratives and insightful analyses. He holds a unique and controversial opinion that Russell Westbrook is often underrated rather than overrated. Despite Westbrook's flaws, Vishwesha believes that his triple-double achievements and relentless athleticism are often downplayed, making him one of the most unique and electrifying players in NBA history, even if his style of play can sometimes be polarizing. 
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