Basketball Star Bronny James Enters NBA Draft After Heart Scare

Bronny James, son of basketball legend LeBron James, has announced his decision to enter the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. The 19-year-old, who recently completed his freshman year at the University of Southern California (USC), will also enter the NCAA transfer portal to explore the possibility of transferring to another college team.

Despite being a top-15 prospect at the beginning of his freshman year, James’ draft prospects have been affected by a cardiac arrest he suffered during practice nine months ago. This setback caused him to miss the start of the season, and he is no longer projected to be a first-round pick.

LeBron James has expressed a desire to play alongside his son in the NBA, stating, “I need to be on the floor with my boy. I gotta be on the floor with Bronny.” James’ agent, Rich Paul, emphasized that the decision to enter the draft will be based on the interest of NBA teams rather than expectations of which round he may be selected.

Bronny James, also known as LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., was a highly regarded prospect in high school, averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists as a senior. He committed to USC in May 2023 but had to undergo surgery to treat a congenital heart defect after the cardiac arrest incident. He made his college debut on Dec. 10 and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for the season.

Despite his challenges, James remains determined to pursue his basketball dreams, whether in the NBA or at the collegiate level.