Before the crash, 18-year-old Alijah Arenas was grinding. Early workouts, rising draft stock, and over 3,000 career points, it was all lining up. But everything changed that April morning in Reseda. The Tesla Cybertruck he drove lost control and slammed into a tree and a fire hydrant. Flames broke out. Smoke filled the cabin. And Alijah was pulled out just in time by brave bystanders. He was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma after inhaling too much smoke.

Now, not even a month later, Alijah is out of the hospital and slowly getting back to form. Doctors found no major injuries, and the young star is already walking, talking, and reportedly returning to the gym soon. During All The Smoke, Matt Barnes revealed, “He’ll be back on the court this week, working out for the first time.” For a moment in his life, it felt like time froze, but Alijah is pushing forward. Surely his comeback, like his game, will speak for itself. And when it does, it might have a lot to do with a special person right next to him: his mother.

Recently, Gilbert Arenas sat down with Matt Barnes and gave credit where it was due, his ex, Laura Govan. Even through years of personal conflict, Gilbert said, “But there’s one thing I do—I’m gonna give her credit—and you know it’s so funny.” He shared how he left the hospital with peace of mind, knowing that Laura had everything handled.

“The reason I left the hospital was because I knew you was in good hands. There’s one thing I do know is if one of the kids is f****d up, she is gonna become overly, overly protective,” he added. That trust, especially during a life-or-death moment, isn’t small. It speaks to co-parenting done right, even when emotions run high. And Gilbert didn’t hold back while honoring her role on the podcast.

The senior Arenas listed all the things Laura would do to ensure the comfort and care for her child. “I mean, you’re going to have warm blankets. If a spit gets on a blanket, you’re going to have a new blanket,” he said, among other things.  “She’s going to do s**t that—she’s going to annoy the hell out of them people.”

Doting and fussing aside, he reflected on how sometimes, a crisis reminds you who’s really there in your corner. “You can be proud, you know, that when we go through things in life, we don’t really know who’s going to be there, right? And I said, ‘you know, that’s one person that you can say was by your side the whole time.'” Gilbert told his son that Laura was by his side through it all, and that’s what mattered most.

Gilbert Arenas’ lesson and a son’s wake-up call after a life-changing crash

In the aftermath of his son’s terrifying car crash, Gilbert Arenas didn’t just share updates, he shared wisdom that holds true for all. Speaking on All The Smoke, Arenas opened up about a powerful conversation he had with Alijah that stuck with him. “You should never leave your home at a certain time,” he warned his son. According to Gil, danger increases after dark, not just from the streets, but from the people. “So the most aggressive minds are active at that time. They can’t tell the difference between who you are when they pull you over.”

That night, everything nearly changed forever. Previously, Gilbert revealed he found out about the crash in the most jarring way. His Tesla app had glitched, showing Alijah was still at the gym. He was working out when his daughter told him, “’You haven’t heard? Your son just got in an accident.’ ‘At the gym?’ ‘No, he’s at the hospital.’” That moment hit like a sucker punch. Gil ran to the hospital, not knowing what he’d find. Luckily, Alijah survived, but not without a deep emotional impact on both father and son.

What truly broke Gilbert was what happened after Alijah woke up. Still weak, the first thing he asked was, “Does my dad know?” That moment hit Gilbert hard. “When I came in and he gave me that ‘I’m sorry’ look, I was just like, ‘you good dawg.’” Arenas didn’t scold him, he embraced him. Because, sometimes, surviving is the lesson itself. That quiet apology from his son said more than words ever could.

When Alijah saw flowers from strangers, he was overwhelmed. People he didn’t even know cared. Gilbert said his son wrote, “I want to meet the people who saved me.” It reminded them both, this wasn’t just survival. This was a second chance. And now, Alijah knows exactly what he’s fighting for.