Bronny James has been cleared by doctors for a full return to basketball four months after suffering a cardiac arrest, and the Southern California freshman is expected to make his collegiate debut soon.
Quick Read
- Bronny James Cleared for Return: Bronny James, a freshman at USC, has been cleared by doctors to return to basketball four months after a cardiac arrest.
- Family Statement: A statement from the James family announced that Bronny, aged 19, will undergo a final evaluation with USC staff and is expected to resume practice soon, with the possibility of playing in games shortly thereafter.
- Coach’s Comments: USC coach Andy Enfield, after a recent game, indicated uncertainty about the exact timing of Bronny’s return, stating it’s not his decision.
- Upcoming USC Games: USC, currently with a 5-2 record, faces No. 11 Gonzaga next and then has a home game against Long Beach State, potentially Bronny’s debut if his father LeBron James can attend.
- AP Top 25 Poll: USC recently dropped out of the AP Top 25 poll following a loss to Oklahoma.
- Team Injuries: Enfield mentioned the team’s struggles with injuries, including to players Boogie Ellis and Kobe Johnson, and the limited availability of guards.
- James’ Acclimation: While James’ return is anticipated, he will need time to get used to game action, having been involved in pregame warmups and practices recently.
- Teammate’s Recovery as Inspiration: Bronny can draw inspiration from teammate Vincent Iwuchukwu, who also suffered a cardiac arrest, returned to limited practice, and then made his debut, playing in 14 games last season.
- James’ Health and Background: Bronny James, who had a treatable congenital heart defect, was a McDonald’s All-American and chose USC, staying close to his Los Angeles home.
The Associated Press has the story:
Bronny James cleared by doctors for return to basketball 4 months after cardiac arrest
Newslooks- LOS ANGELES (AP)
Bronny James has been cleared by doctors for a full return to basketball four months after suffering a cardiac arrest, and the Southern California freshman is expected to make his collegiate debut soon.
A James family spokesperson said in a statement Thursday that the 19-year-old will have a final evaluation with USC staff this week and resume practice next week. He will be able to play in games “soon after,” it said.
“What soon means, I don’t know,” coach Andy Enfield said after USC’s win over Eastern Washington on Wednesday night. “It’s not my decision.”
James didn’t participate in pregame warmups and he didn’t join his teammates on the bench until late in the first half of their 106-78 rout. He joked and smiled with the other reserves and he stood at the rear of the huddles during timeouts.
The Trojans (5-2) play No. 11 Gonzaga in Las Vegas on Saturday. Their next home game is Dec. 10 against Long Beach State, a day the Los Angeles Lakers are off, which could allow LeBron James to watch his namesake son’s debut. After that, the Trojans hit the road for four straight games.
USC fell out of the AP Top 25 poll this week after a two-point loss to Oklahoma last week.
“We didn’t anticipate half our team being hurt for the first 2 1/2 to 3 weeks of the season,” Enfield said, citing injuries to Boogie Ellis and Kobe Johnson. “Bronny’s been out and we have no guards left, we have very limited guards.”
While James will be a welcome addition to USC’s rotation, he’ll need time to acclimate to game action. He has been on the court for pregame warmups twice in recent weeks, doing some rebounding and taking shots but also watching his teammates. He’s also been at practices.
James need look no further than teammate Vincent Iwuchukwu for inspiration. The 7-foot-1 sophomore suffered a cardiac arrest in July 2022. He began limited practice last December and made his debut in January. He played in 14 games last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Iwuchukwu was the top player off the bench Wednesday night, with 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
James was found to have a congenital heart defect that was treatable. He suffered a cardiac arrest in July during a workout at Galen Center.
James was a McDonald’s All-American just like his father. The 6-foot-3 guard played at Sierra Canyon School in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles and chose to stay close to home in picking USC.
