Alijah Arenas Placed in Coma After Tesla Cybertruck Crash
Alijah Arenas, the 18-year-old son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, has been placed in a medically induced coma after a devastating car crash involving a Tesla Cybertruck. The accident reportedly occurred early Thursday morning, April 24, around 4:55 a.m. in Los Angeles.
According to TMZ, Alijah was driving the high-powered vehicle when the crash happened. ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania confirmed the details in a breaking report, stating: “Five-star prospect and USC commit Alijah Arenas was involved in a serious car crash early Thursday morning, hospitalized and placed into an induced coma, sources tell ESPN.”
This incident has shocked the basketball community, especially since Alijah had just reclassified his high school graduation year to 2025 and was expected to make a major impact as a USC Trojan.
Alijah Arenas Was a Rising Star on the Court
Before the crash, Alijah was widely recognized as one of the top young basketball talents in the country. As of December 2024, he was ranked No. 4 overall and the No. 1 shooting guard in the Class of 2026, according to recruiting analysts. But he made a power move, requesting to graduate early and reclassify to 2025, ready to take his shot at greatness.
Earlier this month, he and Gilbert did an interview at the McDonald’s All-American Game with content creator Trey Phills. Their bond was evident.
“Our personalities are a little the same,” Alijah said of his father.
“I feel like that’s my dad’s dream too, that I could get to that level.”
Gilbert smiled and replied,
“It’s very surprising watching him actually dive into the game, you know, physically, mentally.”
Gilbert’s Parenting and Coaching Style: No Days Off
Gilbert Arenas, who hosts the podcast Gil’s Arena, has always been vocal about the discipline he instilled in his kids, especially Alijah. On NBA star Paul George’s Podcast P, Gilbert broke down the intense daily grind they live by.
“Ain’t no days off … We get 3 [hundred or] 400 shots up before school,” he explained.
“He’s coachable … depending on what day it is in the mornings we’ll get up at like 5:30 so he [practices] an hour and a half. [He goes to school, comes home and then] works out and we got lifting right after and then we got more shooting, more dribbling.”
That level of dedication made Alijah stand out—not just as Gilbert’s son, but as a force in his own right.
The Arenas Family Navigates Heartbreak
Gilbert shares four kids with his ex Laura Govan: Izela, Alijah, Hamiley, and Aloni. He also has a daughter, Gia, with his former partner Lindsey Faulk. The whole Arenas family has been surrounded by support since news of the crash surfaced.
Though Gilbert has not yet released a public statement since the accident, fans and former teammates have flooded social media with prayers and positive energy for Alijah’s recovery.
What’s Next for Alijah? Prayers and Patience
At just 18 years old, Alijah’s future remains full of potential, though the road to recovery might now look different. His medical team has not issued updates beyond confirming his coma status, and it’s unclear how this accident might impact his basketball career moving forward.
Still, anyone who knows Gilbert or has followed Alijah’s journey knows this family is built on resilience. With support pouring in from the basketball world and beyond, one thing is clear—Alijah’s story isn’t over.