What Happened to LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr.?

LeBron Raymone "Bronny" James Jr. was born on October 6, 2004, and quickly garnered national attention as the son of NBA icon LeBron James. His high school career at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles was highly scrutinized, culminating in him being named a McDonald's All-American in 2023, a testament to his potential as a four-star recruit. He committed to play college basketball for the University of Southern California (USC) in May 2023.

A pivotal moment in James's career and life occurred on July 24, 2023, when he suffered a cardiac arrest during a USC basketball practice at the Galen Center. This alarming event was later attributed to a congenital heart defect, a condition he had been born with. He was hospitalized and, thankfully, released in stable condition just three days later, on July 27, 2023. Following a period of recovery and medical evaluations, James was cleared by doctors for a full return to basketball in November 2023.

He made his much-anticipated collegiate debut for USC on December 10, 2023, approximately five months after his cardiac arrest. During his freshman season, James played in 25 games, starting six, and averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 19.3 minutes per game. On April 5, 2024, he announced his decision to enter the 2024 NBA Draft while also maintaining his college eligibility and entering the transfer portal.

On June 27, 2024, Bronny James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft. This historic selection made him and his father, LeBron James, the first active father-son duo to play simultaneously in the NBA. He signed a contract with the Lakers on July 3, 2024, and made his NBA debut on October 22, 2024, playing alongside his father in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Throughout his rookie 2024-25 season, James split time between the Los Angeles Lakers and their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, averaging 2.3 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 27 NBA games. Entering his second professional season in 2025-26, he continues on a developmental path, frequently being assigned to and recalled from the G-League to gain valuable playing experience. As of March 11, 2026, James has averaged 2.1 points, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 rebounds in 31 NBA appearances this season, while showing more offensive rhythm in the G-League with averages of 15.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 10 games. He revealed in July 2025 that the cardiac arrest still affects his immune system, making him more susceptible to illness, which can impact his conditioning. Despite limited NBA minutes, he even received two votes for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. The Lakers are committed to his long-term development, aiming for him to grow into a more consistent rotational role.