LeBron James' Son Bronny Discusses His Cardiac Arrest Experience: 'My Days Aren't Normal Anymore.'.Linh

“There were a whole lot of emotions,” the LA Lakers player said of his July 2023 cardiac arrest at the age of 18

Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 30, 2024 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California — Bronny James poses for a portrait during NBA Media Day on September 30, 2024. Photo: Atiba Jefferson/NBAE via Getty

Bronny James is getting real about his health scare.

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

The athlete, who is the eldest son of LeBron James and Savannah 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…”

After the “heart incident,” Bronny was diagnosed with “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. LeBron James #23 and Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game before the game against the Golden State Warriors during the 2024 NBA Preseason on October 15, 2024

“I got real on top of my routines to get back to where I was,” he told Men’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.”

Back in June, Bronny was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 55th overall pick during the second round of the NBA draft.

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, per CNN.