Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, was involved in a serious car accident in Los Angeles early Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. when Arenas’ Tesla Cybertruck collided with a fire hydrant and a tree in the San Fernando Valley. The crash caused significant damage to the vehicle, which later caught fire, and water from the broken hydrant flooded the street.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly before 5 a.m. and found Arenas in serious condition. Bystanders rushed to assist Arenas, pulling him from the burning vehicle before firefighters arrived. He was transported to the hospital in stable condition but was later placed in a medically induced coma, reportedly due to smoke inhalation from the fire. Authorities have stated that drugs and alcohol are not believed to have been factors in the crash, attributing the accident to a loss of control of the vehicle.

Alijah Arenas is an 18-year-old McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit who had recently committed to play college basketball at USC. Known for his scoring ability and high basketball IQ, he was expected to be a key addition to the Trojans’ roster. The accident has left the basketball community in shock, with many expressing their hopes for his recovery. His mother, Laura Govan, took to social media to ask for prayers and support during this difficult time.

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes expressed her thoughts and prayers for Alijah Arenas in her Instagram story, asking for God to heal him. The Los Angeles Fire Department has since responded to the hazardous materials incident caused by the burning Cybertruck. Investigations are ongoing, and the focus remains on Arenas’ health and recovery. The basketball world is rallying around the young athlete, with fans and players alike sending their well-wishes to the Arenas family.

In a separate incident, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant was injured during a playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lu Dort slipped and undercut Morant, causing him to leave the game. The Grizzlies ultimately lost the game 114-108 after leading by as much as 27 points in the first half. Without Morant, the Grizzlies struggled, scoring only 31 points in the second half and turning the ball over 13 times. The Thunder closed the game on a 9-0 run. The extent of Morant’s injury is unknown, but if he is unable to play in Game 4, the series is almost certainly over.

Sheryl Swoopes recently posted on X, throwing shade at Caitlin Clark and her fanbase using a Serena Williams reference. Swoopes has been a consistent critic of Caitlin Clark, often questioning the media hype surrounding her and comparing her success to past WNBA stars.