As Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James has struggled to find his footing since being picked in the 2024 NBA Draft, some have seemingly forgotten that he suffered a major health scare just over a year ago.
In July of 2023, James suffered a cardiac arrest at the University of Southern California before ever appearing in a game for USC.
While he worked to return from it and was ultimately able to play at USC, get drafted and land with the Lakers, he’s still trying to get back to where he was prior to the medical emergency. He explained recently that his days “aren’t normal anymore.”
“My days aren’t normal anymore,” he told Men’s Health. “I still feel like I’m getting back, I’m getting back to where I was.”
Since James’ health scare came before he ever played in a game at USC, many basketball fans have only ever seen him play in the time since his cardiac arrest.
That’s something worth considering when evaluating his stats at USC, NBA Summer League and in the NBA preseason so far.
Nobody can say for sure what type of player James would be today if it weren’t for his medical emergency, but he isn’t going to let the guessing game get in the way of his progression as a player. He clearly has some room for growth and will need to improve whenever he gets reps, whether they come at the NBA level or in the G League.
The 20-year-old did have a couple of solid Summer League performances this offseason that offered a glimpse into the type of player he could be. Despite a rocky Summer League stint overall, he had a combined 25 points on 10-for-21 shooting over his final two appearances.
While he hasn’t had any performances like that in the preseason, the good news for the youngster is that the Lakers will likely be patient with him after signing him to a four-year deal. The deal does carry a fourth-year team option.
James’ journey has been unique for a number of reasons, and while some feel like he has unfairly benefited from his father’s status, there’s no denying that the rookie has faced plenty of adversity along the way — perhaps more than the average player his age.
