The college basketball career of Bronny James got off to a harrowing start at USC, suddenly suffering from cardiac arrest in early July during the team’s summer workouts not too long after his arrival on campus.
James was swiftly treated and taken to the hospital following the incident, with doctors discovering later a congenital heart defect for the son of NBA legend LeBron James. And after making a full recovery and missing the first eight games of the Trojans’ season, he returned to the USC lineup and made his college debut.
Since then James has declared for the NBA Draft and entered the NCAA transfer portal this offseason. And at the NBA Combine, he was asked when he eventually shook the fear regarding his healthy after the episode.
“It’s still lingering,” James smiled and admitted. “I feel like my parents were a big factor of believing in me and giving me the love and affection that I needed at that time. But yeah, I still think about everything that could happen. But I just love the game so much that it just overpowers is.”
James was honest about the aftermath of a frightening situation but seemed in good spirits nearly one year removed from his cardiac arrest. And he was also honest about if the cardia arrest effected how he played once he did return to the court.
“Yeah, for sure. I was set back, but that’s not an excuse,” James said. “I’ve put in so many years of work and I don’t want to have anyone think that just because I have this issue that I’m lower than everyone else.”
James was initially placed on a minutes restriction before ramping things up in his freshman season with USC. But his production dos not necessarily reflect that of a potential pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, averaging just 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in his 19.4 minutes per game. Primarily coming off of the bench for the Trojans with six starts on the year and three games scoring in double-figures.
He was a highly touted high school recruit out of Sierra Canyon in California where he was a four-star prospect rated as the No. 25 overall recruit and the No. 6 ranked point guard in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. But many are curious if his pursuit of the NBA is an attempt to team up with his father at the NBA level, who approaches 40 year old next season.
James has until May 29 to withdraw his name from the draft if he does want to return to the college level, but regardless of what his future holds, his return from from a traumatic medical emergency is undoubtedly an impressive one.
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