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Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James told reporters he was dedicating the 2023-24 season to his son, Bronny, who suffered cardiac arrest during a July workout.
“Bronny is doing extremely well,” he added. “He’s begun his rehab process to get back on the floor this season with USC.”
A James’ family spokesperson said in late August that the cause of Bronny’s cardiac arrest was believed to be a congenital heart defect.
“It is an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect which can and will be treated,” they said. “We are very confident in Bronny’s full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future. We will continue to provide updates to media and respectfully reiterate the family’s request for privacy.”
Bronny James was evaluated at both the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and then both the Mayo Clinic and the Atlantic Health-Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey.
LeBron James told reporters on Monday that Bronny was doing well and that his recovery inspired the four-time champion and four-time MVP to return for another season after flirting with the idea of retirement following the 2022-23 campaign.
“If he was to walk through the door right now you wouldn’t even know that he had what he had,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing to be able to have him where he is today.”
LeBron said conversations with his family, with himself and being on the AAU circuit with Bryce James, seeing Bronny go to USC etc. inspired him. “I feel like I have a lot more in the tank to give.”
Lakers’ LeBron James on why he didn’t retire: “I feel like I’ve got a lot more in the tank to give. At that moment [after West finals], I didn’t. I was exhausted. I was tired. Mentally, I was in too many different places.”
He also said he was pleased with the Lakers’ strong offseason, which included re-signing Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russell and adding Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes.
“The job that Coach [Darvin] Ham and [vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka] did with the acquisitions coming in, that kind of inspired me too,” he told reporters.
LeBron’s energy is “solely towards this team” and “how we can get better every day,” not moves around the NBA. He’s happy LAL brought back “very, very good players” and the first thread of continuity they’ve had in recent years, but re-emphasized the importance of “the work”.
So James has a talented and deep roster around him and the motivation and inspiration provided by his son. The Lakers figure to be a major threat to win a title, assuming they stay healthy, and are one of the NBA’s top contenders, joining teams like the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns in the West and the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics in the East.
It’s possible that it will be the 38-year-old’s final shot at a title, though he didn’t offer much insight into his future plans when asked if the 2023-24 season would be his last.
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” he told reporters. “I’m happy right now, I’m excited, looking forward to tomorrow. I don’t know what the end of this road, or this season looks like.”
