“He Just Hating” Fans Slam Baron Davis’ Pettiness as He Questions Gilbert Arenas’ Son Alijah’s USC Commitment

Alijah Arenas, the Class of 2025, is already winning the internet. And just recently, he made a big decision about his hoop future, and his father, Gilbert Arenas, was right there with him. “For me, it felt like the best fit,” he said, reflecting on his choice. “Being on campus made me feel special.” The moment was a milestone for the young basketball star, and his father couldn’t have been happier. But not everyone shared that enthusiasm. After all, when you become an on-court personality, you can’t have fans all around.

Over the weekend, Baron Davis made it clear he wasn’t a fan of Alijah’s decision. And how did it start? Gil crossed paths with Davis in San Francisco for the NBA All-Star festivities, and the rest is here for you to know! What started as a casual conversation quickly turned into a debate about Alijah’s choice to play for USC. Gil pointed to USC’s new head coach, Eric Musselman, as a game-changer for the program, making it an attractive destination for top recruits.

Well, Davis, a UCLA alum, didn’t hold back, questioning why the young star would commit to the Trojans. And the logic of HC? Oh, it didn’t convince Davis. He brushed it off and called USC a “mid” school. But how can a father digest when someone questions his son? Arenas wasn’t having it. “No five-star wanted to go to USC until he (Enfield) got fired,” he shot back, defending his son’s decision with confidence.

As clips of the exchange made the rounds online, fans quickly took sides. Many people accused Davis of bias due to his UCLA roots and dismissed his criticism as pure jealousy.

Fans expose Baron Davis’ intentions

As the viral clip spread, one fan commented, “The rivalry never dies you got USC UCLA and Arizona legends arguing lmaoo.” Another wrote, “Baron went to UCLA he just Hating 😂.” And they weren’t wrong—Davis made a name for himself during his two seasons at UCLA, from 1998 to 1999.

Back in his freshman year, Baron Davis played 32 games, starting 31, and averaged 11.7 points per game. He then led the team with 161 assists and 77 steals. His standout performances earned him Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the Pac-10 All-Freshman team. By his sophomore year, he took things up a notch, leading the Bruins in scoring with 15.9 points per game and securing first-team All-Pac-10 and Team MVP honors.

Well, those lining behind the Arenas weren’t just calling Davis out but had reasons to defend their stance. An account named Byronsky commented, “I couldn’t quite understand most of it but what it sounded like was Five-star recruits are prioritizing their fastest path to the NBA over a school’s legacy. USC might not be winning titles, but it’s producing NBA talent, which is what matters most to these players. At UCLA, the focus is on winning and tradition, but at USC, it’s all about development for the next level. Great programs have been known to handcuff their players for the benefit of the team, there’s nothing wrong with that but if you’re a five star recruit, you don’t want to play for three years to showcase all your talents.” Does the ‘Agent Zero’ agree to this?

Gilbert seems to side with this. He stood firm in his defense, saying, sending Alijah to a stacked program would hinder his growth. “The group gets a 30-0 record, but the players themselves never learned how to go balls to the wall, never learned how to take over games, learn how to hang on to wins! Hence why they all become role players, never stars!” Arenas explained, pointing out a major issue in youth basketball development.

And plenty of fans agreed with him. “USC is not mid. We got the most chips of any schools in any sport. We push out big dawgs,” one fan declared. Alijah, standing at 6-foot-6, is certainly on track to be one of “big dawgs”.

His dominant season at Chatsworth—where he averaged 31.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game—earned him a spot in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American Game. So what’s next for Alijah? With his size, skill, and scoring ability, he’s expected to make an immediate impact at USC. And who knows, might there be another NBA prospect loading?