Bronny James has revealed that the cardiac arrest he suffered in July is still ‘lingering’ on his mind as he pursues his dream to go pro at the NBA Draft Combine, although he insists that he isn’t desperate to play with his legendary father.
The 19-year-old, who is unlikely to return to the USC Trojans this summer, said the possibility that he wouldn’t be able to play again was discussed with his mom and dad after his health scare.
‘I feel like my parents were a big factor believing in me and giving me the love and affection that I needed at that time,’ James said. ‘I still think about everything that could happen. I just love the game so much that it overpowers it.’
James missed the first month of the season but went onto average 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 games for the Trojans.
‘It’s just a great thing to happen to me, in terms of just being grateful for everything,’ James said of his time out of the game and comeback. ‘I put in the work and stuff like that to get back, so I feel like I’ve earned the opportunity. I’m extremely grateful for everything that’s been given to me.’
James played in a scrimmage on Tuesday after participating in drills the previous day, when he had his vertical leap measured at 40 1/2 inches and his height – without shoes – at 6-foot-1 1/2 despite being listed by Southern California as 6-4. He also answered questions from reporters, something he didn’t do last season.
The son of NBA career scoring leader LeBron James, Bronny James was one of the nation’s top prospects when he decided to stay near home and committed to USC last May out of Sierra Canyon School in nearby Chatsworth. But things took an unexpected turn last summer.
James went into cardiac arrest because of a congenital heart defect during a basketball workout at USC in late July and needed surgery. He was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and later seen by doctors at the Mayo Clinic and Atlantic Health-Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey.
‘It was a tough time, for sure,’ he said. ‘All this work that I put in, it just really built me into someone that would never give up. It paid off because I put in the work after that situation, and I’m back to where I want to be.’
James, who has until later this month to decide if he wants to turn pro or play at least another year in college, said his goal is to get to the NBA – not necessarily play on the same team as LeBron.
‘My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself and, of course, get to the NBA,’ he said. ‘I never thought about playing with my dad. But of course, he’s brought it up a couple times.’
Bronny dismissed the idea that a team might draft him as a way to lure his father.
‘This is a serious business,’ he said. ‘I don’t feel like there would be a thought of `I´m just drafting this kid just because I’m gonna get his dad.’ I don’t think a GM would really allow that. I think I’ve put in the work and I’ll get drafted because of not only the player but the person that I am.’
