Lakers’ LeBron James’ Surprise Statement on Bronny ‘Incident’

It was back in July 2023 that Bronny James suffered what was a sudden and frightening health scare–a cardiac arrest during a morning workout, one that required his to be rescued by CPR and hospitalized at  Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The problem was caused by a previously undetected and treatable congenital heart issue, one that has not stopped Bronny James’ career from continuing, as he is now playing alongside his father, LeBron James, with the Lakers.

And he’s been chipping in lately for a Lakers team that is among the hottest in the league, winners of 14 of their last 16 games, currently sitting with the No. 3 seed in the West.

On Wednesday, Bronny James played 13 meaningful minutes, scoring four points with two steals and an assist. Coach JJ Redick went back to Bronny James on Friday against Brooklyn, in a moment when the tanking Nets were scrambling and had taken a lead over the Lakers on a 14-4 run in the second quarter. Bronny James helped the Lakers staunch the run with a 3-pointer–on a pass from his father, making him the first son in NBA history to convert a basket on a pass from his dad.

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Bronny James Struggled With Shooting Before This Lakers Season

After the Lakers put down the Nets’ uprising with a 116-99 win, LeBron James revealed an underreported tidbit about his son–the heart attack affected him for a lot longer than people realized, and that showed in the poor shooting he has put forth in the two years since.

Indeed, Bronny James struggled badly in his one year in college, averaging 4.8 points with 36.6% shooting from the field and 26.7% from the 3-point line. He would not have been drafted in 2024 with those numbers, except for whom his father is.

In his first season as a pro, Bronny James averaged 21.9 points in the G League, but on only so-so shooting–44.3% from the field and 38.0% from the 3-point line. This season? He has been a model of efficiency, making 54.7% from the field and 41.7% from the 3-point line.

 

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LeBron James Cites ‘Incident’ for Bronny James Shooting Woes

Bronny James is shooting 41.9% on 3s for the Lakers, giving an inkling that he can develop into a 3-and-D guard. LeBron James said that does not surprise him–the heart issue had been holding him back.

“Just getting back to where it was before the incident. He’s always been able to shoot the ball, shot the ball at a high level pretty much throughout his years of playing ball,” James said. “It’s confidence, his rhythm, getting his strength back and his wind and everything. Everything is just coming back, like I said, (to where it was) before the incident. I am not surprised to see him shoot the ball at that high a clip.”

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Lakers Assist a ‘Cool Moment’ for LeBron James

James also said that he was happy to have hit the record books in the Lakers win, with the pass to set up his son’s 3-pointer.

“Not taking it for granted, just being in the moment of us being on the floor together again,” James said. “That’s two games back-to-back, you know, playing meaningful minutes and him, also, making another play, us making a run in that second quarter. … Making the right play, I got doubled, he was able to make the pass to the corner and knock down the 3, so. Definitely a cool moment for us and also for our family.”

 

 

 

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney