LeBron James' Son Bronny Opens Up About His Cardiac Arrest: 'My Days Aren't Normal Anymore'

Mar. 15, 2025

Bronny James poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 30, 2024.Photo:Atiba Jefferson/NBAE via Getty

Atiba Jefferson/NBAE via Getty

Bronny Jamesis getting real about his health scare.

Speaking in a new interview withMen’s Health,published Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Los Angeles Lakers player, 20, opened up aboutsuffering a cardiac arrestin July 2023 when he was just 18 years old.

The athlete, who is the eldest son ofLeBron JamesandSavannah James, told the outlet that everything felt normal on the day of the medical emergency. He had his smoothie and had been doing running drills at the University of Southern California when he says he blacked out and doesn’t remember anything else about the moment.

Asked if he was concerned about whether he would be able to play basketball again, Bronny said, “At the point when it happened, there were a whole bunch of categories that what had happened could fall under, so yeah. There were a whole lot of emotions…"

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Bronny James during the Lakers game against the Phoenix Suns on October 6, 2024.Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty

After the “heart incident,” Bronny wasdiagnosedwith “an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect” in August 2023 and underwent surgery before beginning his rehabilitation process.

Bronny went on to open up about his road to recovery and shared how his life has changed.

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LeBron James and Bronny James warm up before the Lakers game against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 15, 2024.Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty

Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty

“I got real on top of my routines to get back to where I was,” he toldMen’s Health. “I had to do breathing exercises and stuff. It was a total reset.”

“I have to stay on top of my heart medications, and — I got my heart pillow,” he continued.

Bronny explained, “When I coughed, it used to hurt a little bit, but you get this pillow, and when you cough you just hold it so it doesn’t hurt.”

“My days aren’t normal anymore,” he added. “I still feel like I’m getting back, I’m getting back to where I was.”

Making his NBA debut in the fall, the sportsman joined his father in the Lakers, making them the first father and son to play in any NBA game at the same time, perCNN.

source: people.com