Barring what the present holds, let’s teleport back into the past for once. It’s not healthy to do, but in the case of Bronny James, it allows one to gauge just what the 20-year-old went through. In July 2023, James was among the headliners on the USC roster when all of a sudden a practice session turned his life upside down. The Lakers guard only remembers performing running drills from that day, and then he blacked out.

That was because James suffered a cardiac arrest and required CPR to be performed. DJ Rodman, the son of Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman had just joined the team after spending four years at Washington State. Though young, this was the fourth such incident Rodman witnessed on the basketball court. “I had to run out because I couldn’t handle another one,” he told the LA Times.

Still, unaware of what had happened to him, Bronny James seemed unfazed and got ready to begin the drill again. Obviously, in the following moments, he was taken to the hospital. Life hasn’t been the same since then. Everything he does requires close monitoring. In the initial time after surgery to repair a congenital heart problem, the youthful guard couldn’t even cough without sharp pain in his chest.

Luckily, James had an apprentice to help him soothe the discomfort. However, there was some shyness to admitting it as he laughed during his interview with Men’s Health. Bronny revealed he would use a heart pillow when he would cough to avoid the painful aftereffects. “I got my heart pillow…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,” he said in the interview.

Bronny James is still not back to full fitness

At the time of suffering the cardiac arrest, Bronny James was among the most enticing college prospects in the country. With USC, he had an ideal team surrounding his talents. However, the surgery and recovery took away four months from his basketball routine. Not just that, but James reveals a “total reset” took place before he could step on the floor again.

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

Since making it to the NBA, his games haven’t reflected the best version of the 20-year-old. During the preseason contests, he couldn’t knock down a single three-pointer, his most reliable offensive option. Furthermore, getting the hang of the pace and high intensity of the NBA has been a challenge in itself.

James is still confident in his abilities to adjust himself to the demands of the league. However, he is also aware that he isn’t there just yet. “I still feel like I’m getting back, I’m getting back to where I was,” said the Lakers second-round pick. Despite the privileges that come with the last name and being NBA royalty, Bronny James remains humble.

He has welcomed the prospect of playing in the NBA’s G-League to walk through the process of development. In many ways, the game time he finds at that level could have a positive impact on him translating his game to the NBA. The road is still long. But Bronny James is devoted to doing all that’s necessary to mark his place in the pros.

Do you think the 20-year-old will successfully transition to the league and get over his struggles? Let us know your views in the comments below.