Bronny James recovered from his cardiac arrest while at USC to play for the Los Angeles Lakers and its G-League team.
Bronny James thankful of playing in NBA after suffering cardiac arrest
Bronny James has seen the last couple of years of his life look like it came from a Hollywood script. The flip side of it is that the Los Angeles Lakers star has also faced his fair share of brickbats from fans as they felt he was not ready to be a part of the NBA.
It all started after his cardiac arrest at the start of his freshman season with USC threatened to stop his basketball career. He missed a lot of games as he recovered from it at home. Then when he came back, he soon became part of the starting lineup.
However, his performances showed he lacked development. That is what many pointed out as a problem when he declared for the NBA draft. The fact that his father LeBron James‘ influence was going to draw an even bigger round of negativity made it more difficult for the young star.
When the Associated Press caught up with the current G-League star, he was asked how that health scare impacted him as he knew his dreams almost did not come true. The 20-year-old knowing that it was just a little less than 18 months from the incident revealed.
I’ve become resilient over these past couple of years fighting through injuries, mental illness, stuff like that. Just, you know, coming in and working every day and staying the course.
Bronny James to AP
Bronny James went on to reveal he is still trying to get past that scare. It is difficult for him to grasp that his life could have been over at such a young age and is still trying to process it. But he is also grateful as he is alive and can walk and talk to people.
Bronny James lighting it up in G-League
Bronny James opened his G-League career with two downright dud games. He totaled 10 points from both games and many continued to question if he deserved a place on the South Bay Lakers. Then came an injury and he was sidelined for a while.
After returning, the former USC star had a major uptick in his performances. In four straight games, he scored in double digits while also impacting the defensive end of the floor. The highlight of those four games was a 30-point game where he showed the basketball world he belonged.
With more time playing the game and coaching, James Jr. could pick up on his potential. If he stays healthy and listens to his coaches, he could have a good career in the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers have all the resources for him to take that leap.
