Bronny James breaks his silence on health scandal in 2023

Bronny James opened up about his health scare in 2023 while playing at the University of Southern California in a cover story Men’s Health.

The 19-year-old shocked the basketball community when he was hospitalized after suffering cardiac arrest during a basketball practice at USC. He spent months in treatment and recovery before being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers to play (as everyone hopes) alongside his father, LeBron James.

Now he’s working to prove his worth to the championship-contending team while maintaining his health.

“I got my routines back together to get back to where I was,” he explained to writer Hanif Abdurraqib. “I had to do breathing exercises and stuff. It was a total reset. I have to keep track of my heart medications and have been given my heart pillow.

“My days are no longer normal,” he added. “I still feel like I’m coming back, I’m getting back to where I was.”

Due to his health issues, Bronny was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart defect that affected both his anatomy and heart function. After surgery, he was allowed to play again in November 2023 before being drafted by the Lakers in June 2024.

As the son of the NBA’s biggest star, Bronny is under intense scrutiny alongside his father after spending just one year at USC. Critics have accused nepotism regarding his place with the Lakers and compared him to LeBron, a four-time NBA champion and one of the best players in league history.

But he is ready.

“Everything I’ve been through over the years has prepared me for this,” Bronny explained. “I really think it just has to do with experiencing so much negativity and persevering through it all. I feel like it’s put me in a situation that’s holding me back or that I’m not pushing through at the time. I can maintain my well-being and belief in myself to keep going.

“I mean, there might be a few times where I look at something and it makes me mad and I go out and play better, but most of the time it goes in one way and out the other,” he added.

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