Bronny James, the son of basketball legend LeBron James, expressed gratitude as he marked his college debut, less than five months after experiencing a cardiac arrest.
The 19-year-old entered the game for the University of Southern California, coming off the bench in the first half during their 84-79 loss to Long Beach State. Having been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect in July, James received medical clearance to resume playing in November.
LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, lauded his son’s accomplishment. He shared his emotions on Instagram, stating, “Can’t even tell y’all how EMOTIONAL today was for me! I’m literally drained, and all I can say is @bronny you’re simply INCREDIBLE!!” He emphasized that, beyond wins and losses, Bronny has already achieved the ultimate championship—life.
Courtside to witness the game, LeBron was joined by family members, including his other children, Bryce Maximus and Zhuri. The crowd gave Bronny a standing ovation upon entering the game, and his family celebrated when he scored a three-pointer in the second half.
The 38-year-old LeBron expressed pride in his son’s performance and acknowledged that witnessing Bronny’s return to the court was emotionally significant.
During his 16-minute playtime, Bronny contributed with four points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. After the game, he expressed gratitude for the support received during his challenging time, thanking medical staff, family, coach Andy Enfield, and teammates.
Social media responses, including well-wishes from three-time NBA champion Dwayne Wade, highlighted the significance of Bronny’s return to the game he loves. Wade mentioned, “Watching Bronny walk out on that court gave me chills. Welcome back to the game you love, Bronny.”
Source: BBC Sports
