“Everyone doing great. We have our family together, safe and healthy, and we feel your love”. For those who feared the worst in July 2023, LeBron James swiftly reassured them, expressing his gratitude for their support. Bronny James’ sudden cardiac arrest sent shockwaves through the NBA community, especially for fans who watched LeBron in his prime and have since followed his eldest son’s journey toward a similar path. Set to begin his college career at USC, the incident during practice became an unexpected setback for Bronny.However, the young star refused to let the incident bring him down. His determination was something his father, LeBron, undoubtedly held in high regard.

The recently released Netflix Series, ‘Starting 5’ places a special emphasis on Bronny James’ recovery. Detailing the incident, both LeBron James and his wife couldn’t help but be grateful for the people who helped keep their son alive. Pausing to gather herself as emotions surfaced, she added, “At the end of the day, it was just about supporting each other and being super grateful for the outcome.” LeBron also expressed gratitude toward the medical staff who helped his son. However, he saved his highest praise for Bronny’s resilience.

“It’s … it’s crazy with kids. When they love and want something that’s all that matters to them,” Lebron said. “As a parent, you’re like, you know, ‘You had a cardiac arrest.’ In his mind, he’s like, ‘Can I or Can I not play ball again?’ And if the answer is Yes, ‘When can I play ball again?’ Like, I love that.” 

After being discharged from the hospital in July, Bronny took a few months off to recover. From LeBron sharing videos of his son playing the piano to then-USC head coach Andy Enfield revealing that Bronny went to school and was performing “extremely well”. The break from basketball was unfortunate, but it allowed Bronny to focus on other things.

By October 2023, LeBron revealed that Bronny had begun the rehab process, indicating that he would be present alongside his USC teammates during the college season. Around mid-November, Bronny started pregame warmups, Doctors cleared him for a full return to basketball by the end of the same month.

Bronny James finally made his collegiate debut on December 10. In 17 minutes of playtime, the point/shooting guard would make 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Reports indicate that due to prioritizing Bronny’s health, his on-court minutes were limited. He averaged 19.4 minutes of playing time. Staying committed to basketball and not stepping away for too long allowed Bronny to position himself for the draft. He also earned the opportunity to play alongside his father this season.

Bronny also hasn’t had much success in the Summer League or the Lakers’ first two preseason games. While many look to see the 20-year-old performing well, his swift recovery inspired others. After all, we know for a fact that his younger brother is.

LeBron’s younger son, Bryce, is in the same spot today where Bronny was a couple of years ago. Bryce is making a name for himself through his high school basketball career. Before his older brother and father teamed up against the Phoenix Suns, Bryce participated in the Peach Jam Tournament. During the event, he shared his thoughts on his brother’s upcoming debut, reflecting on his feelings from draft night.

“It’s a great feeling just knowing that my brother, (and) the journey that he’s had,” Bronny James told reporters. “(He) just came that far from the cardiac arrest to all the difficulties that he has had in his, in his career in college,” said Bryce. “It’s amazing to see him, play with his dad. I have always looked at him, of course, he is my big brother. It was definitely a great experience just seeing how far he’s coming, like the journey that he had to go through.”

Having shown that the cardiac arrest was not enough to stop him, Bronny must now demonstrate why he deserves to be in the NBA. Fortunately, the remaining pre-season, and the entirety of the regular season, provide him with the opportunity to do so.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.