Many fans of the Los Angeles Lakers see rookie forward Devin Ebanks as the second coming of former Lakers forward Trevor Ariza, and after watching the Lakers' 102-95 preseason victory over the Denver Nuggets, I would be inclined to agree.
Ebanks, at 6'9'', is slightly taller than Ariza and just as athletic, plus he plays with the same type of energy and intensity.
There is one huge difference in the players, though, because even though they share similar physical traits, Ebanks' game is much more advanced than Ariza's was as a rookie.
Ariza came to the NBA from UCLA with the reputation as a great athlete with somewhat raw fundamental skills and the potential to be a very good player if someone took the time to foster his development.
After stints with the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic, Ariza did find an environment with the Lakers where his game finally began to show signs of progression.
Ariza played a prominent role in the Lakers' 2009 championship season, and his long-distance shooting and timely defense added a different element to the team.
Ron Artest has more than filled Ariza's shoes, ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Hadarii Jones
Los Angeles Lakers: Is Devin Ebanks a New and Improved Version of Trevor Ariza?
October 18th, 2010 by Hadarii Jones Leave a reply »
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