Gilbert Arenas and ex Laura Govan plan emotional surprise for son Alijah Arenas celebrating his return after fiery car crash

Gilbert Arenas and his former girlfriend, Laura Govan, have been busy over the past two weeks taking care of their son Alijah Arenas. Alijah drove into a tree and hit a fire hydrant on April 25 while driving a Tesla truck. The high school phenom was hospitalized and placed in an induced coma.

A week after his hospitalization, the Chatsworth High School star returned home. The former Washington Wizards star and the actress shared on Instagram on Thursday how they surprised their son:

Aside from the collab video, the host of Gil's Arena wrote a message on X (formerly Twitter) thanking everyone for "prayers, love and support." Govan did the same via an Instagram story:

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"THANK YOU TRULY FOR ALLLLLL YOUR PRAYERS... Although close it just wasn't his time...Thank You God For Giving My Baby A Second Chance"

Laura Govan's message after her son with Gilbert Arenas returned from hospital stay following a fiery car crash last week. [photo: @lauramgovan/IG]

Right after the accident, the parents of Alijah Arenas fervently asked for prayers on social media. Former and current basketball players, actors and fans promptly responded to their plea with an outpouring of support. Once the high school basketball star returned home, the parents promptly wrote messages gratitude and appreciation.

Fans react to Gilbert Arenas’ tweet following Alijah Arenas’ return from hospital stay

The car accident involving Gilbert Arenas’ son, Alijah Arenas, continues to reverberate. Former and current NBA players, coaches and fans sent their prayers and support to the Arenas family following the crash.

When the former Golden State Warriors star wrote a message on X (formerly Twitter) following Alijah’s return home, fans promptly reacted:

“He definitely swerved and bent that corner.”

Expand Tweet

One fan said:

“So happy to see .. God is so Good.”

Another fan added:

“Some say No Chill, I say levity. Glad to see Alijah is home and you back in the Arena.”

@Bonniehartxo continued:

“This is such an incredible story. Alijah’s got the best sense of humor, even in the most intense moments! He knows how to keep it light, even when life gets heavy.”

@gabbott03 commented:

“Happy to see the young man getting back to good health.”

The people who reacted to Gilbert Arenas’ post hardly talked about the basketball future of Alijah Arenas. They were just happy he returned home healthy.

The Govan and Arenas families recently released a statement thanking everyone for their “prayers, encouragement and outpouring support.” They also wish to keep their privacy during a time of healing.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero