LOS ANGELES – Bronny James warmed up with his USC teammates before a game for the first time this season after suffering a cardiac arrest in July.
He has yet to make his college debut after determining he has a treatable congenital heart defect.
When asked how big of a milestone this was for his son, Lakers superstar LeBron James smiled broadly Sunday night and replied, “Yeah. It’s awesome. I feel it. He’s almost there.
“It’s great to have him back on the team with us and participating with us,” USC guard Kobe Johnson said after the Trojans. beat Brown 81-70. “We want him back as soon as possible but we want him to be as healthy as possible when he comes back. Every day we pray that he continues to improve and I hope that this year he can join us.
James did individual work before the games, but was not on the field to warm up with his teammates before Sunday’s game.
Added USC coach Andy Enfield: “It was great. He did warm-ups with the team. He is an integral part of our program and our team. He’s a great teammate. We hope that one day he returns to the field, but when that day comes, it’s not my decision. We will be patient and follow the process.
James played his high school career at Sierra Canyon, just north of Los Angeles and is a freshman guard at USC.
Bronny James then made the short trip downtown from the Galen Center to Crypto.Com Arena to watch his father score 37 points, including the free throw, in the Lakers’ 105-104 victory over the Houston Rockets.
“It was great to have him here. Seeing my man with a smile,” he said. “Anyone who has students, you know they’re leaving and you might not see them for a week or two, and then they show up at your house to do laundry and have a hot, fresh meal. This makes me super happy.
LeBron James said it was the first time he had seen his son in two weeks.
“It’s okay. He’s got school, he’s working out and he’s working out. Look, the kid’s 19. That’s what the FaceTime video is for,” he said.
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AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy in Los Angeles contributed.
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