LOS ANGELES — It was a memorable college basketball debut for Bronny James on Sunday, 4½ months after he suffered a cardiac arrest.
James, now a freshman guard for Southern California, triggered raucous cheers with a pull-up 3-pointer for the first basket of his career, a chasedown block and inspired play during critical minutes.
His famous father, NBA superstar LeBron James, was there to watch it all at the Galen Center. But Bronny’s debut was not enough to save USC from an overtime loss to Long Beach State.
But after the game, when Bronny sat before a horde of media, he said nothing about the game – or basketball.
“I just want to say I’m thankful for everything,” Bronny said after the game. ‘The Mayo Clinic, everything they helped me with. My parents, siblings for supporting me through this hard time in my life. I just want to give appreciation to everyone who’s helped me through this.’’
He did not take any questions from the media. But his play spoke for him — beyond the four points on 1-for-3 shooting, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 16 minutes. One of those steals came with 26 seconds left in regulation, and he subsequently missed the first of two free throws with 21 seconds to play in regulation.
‘I thought he was very solid,’ USC coach Andy Enfield said, later adding, ‘Bronny handles the spotlight extremely well. He’s a passionate young man about playing basketball.’
There was electric moments.
The crowd roared with 13:08 left to play when Bronny, a freshman guard for USC, made a pullup 3-pointer for the first basket for his college career. He gave the crowd more to cheer for during a debut that featured a chase down block, a steal with 26 seconds in regulation and a nifty assist.
Among the cheering crowd of 9,806 was his famous father, who watched the game courtside at the Galen Center.
His pull-up 3-pointer with 13:08 left in the second half triggered wild cheers. More came during chasedown block reminiscent of the ones on his father’s highlight reels. Though the numbers were modest, he showed off his athleticism and unselfishness.
Shortly before the national anthem, LeBron created a stir when he entered the arena. He held hands with his 9-year-old daughter Zhuri and walked to a courtside seat. Along the way he greeted Rob Pelinka, general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers.
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A small army of cameramen crowded around LeBron. But it was Bronny’s day.
The crowd cheered loudly when Bronny entered the game with 12:58 left in the first half. In less than a minute, he almost forced a turnover with his tough man-to-man defense
He played six minutes in the first half and attempted only one shot ― a 3-pointer that bounced off the back of the rim. He wouldn’t attempt another shot until the second half ― and he made one of two. More than once he made the extra pass rather than shoot.
Bronny appears to have earned the coaches’ trust, too. They put him back in the game with 3:32 left and the score tied at 69-69, and he snagged another rebound as USC battled with Long Beach State. After a rousing steal, he went to the free throw line and made one of two.
He also stayed on the floor for the opening minutes of overtime before coming out of the game.
‘Can’t even tell y’all how EMOTIONAL today was for me! I’m literally drained and all I can say is @bronny you’re simply INCREDIBLE!!’ LeBron wrote on Instagram.
This season Bronny will be wearing jersey No. 6, the same number his father wore for 16 seasons. (LeBron now wears No. 23 because the NBA has retired No. 6 in honor of Bill Russell.)
Bronny, whose real name is LeBron James Jr., suffered a cardiac arrest on July 24 during a team practice and collapsed on the court at the Galen Center. He was hospitalized for three days, and after being discharged and undergoing a battery of medical tests.
On Aug. 25, a family friend of the James family said Bronny had suffered the cardiac arrest because a congenital heart defect and was optimistic he would play again. He was cleared to rejoin the team on Nov. 30 and got the green light to make his debut on Sunday.
Bronny, a four-star prospect out of high school, committed to USC in May. He was projected by some analysts as as first-round NBA pick before he suffered cardiac arrest.
