Bronny James is opening up about the life-altering health scare he experienced just over a year ago. In a candid interview with Men’s Health, published on Tuesday, Oct. 15, the 20-year-old Los Angeles Lakers player reflected on the cardiac arrest he suffered in July 2023. At the time, Bronny was just 18 years old, preparing for his collegiate basketball career at the University of Southern California.
As the eldest son of NBA legend LeBron James and Savannah James, Bronny was accustomed to the rigors of training and competition. On the day of the incident, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. “I had my smoothie, and I was doing running drills at USC,” Bronny recalled. But suddenly, everything changed. “I blacked out and don’t remember anything else about the moment,” he said, describing how the medical emergency came without warning.
When asked if he feared he might never play basketball again, Bronny admitted the uncertainty was overwhelming. “At the point when it happened, there were a whole bunch of categories that what had happened could fall under,” he explained. “So yeah, there were a whole lot of emotions…” The future of his basketball career, and his health, was up in the air.
In August 2023, Bronny received a diagnosis of a “significant congenital heart defect” following the “heart incident,” as he calls it. This heart condition required surgery, and afterward, he began an intense rehabilitation process to get back to the game he loves.
Bronny opened up about his recovery, sharing how he had to rebuild his routine from scratch. “I got real on top of my routines to get back to where I was,” he said. His rehabilitation included not just physical exercises but also breathing exercises, marking what he called “a total reset.” He explained how he now has to manage his condition closely, including staying on top of heart medications.
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One small but symbolic part of his recovery was the use of a heart pillow, a tool that helped him manage discomfort after surgery. “When I coughed, it used to hurt a little bit, but you get this pillow, and when you cough, you just hold it so it doesn’t hurt,” Bronny shared, highlighting the small adjustments he’s had to make to his everyday life.
“My days aren’t normal anymore,” he said, acknowledging that the recovery process is ongoing. “I still feel like I’m getting back, getting back to where I was.”
Despite the challenges, Bronny’s resilience and determination have fueled his comeback. Just a few months after his health scare, in June 2024, the Los Angeles Lakers selected him as the 55th overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft. Bronny made history as he joined the Lakers alongside his father, LeBron James, marking the first time a father and son played in an NBA game together.
Bronny’s journey has been one of perseverance and grit, and while his days may not feel “normal” anymore, his focus remains on getting back to full strength and making the most of his promising basketball career. His story is not just one of recovery but also of breaking barriers in the NBA alongside his father.
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