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Over the past year and a half, Bronny James has experienced a series of remarkable events that would be significant even without his lineage as the son of an NBA legend.

As a highly touted recruit for USC, James faced a life-threatening incident in the summer of 2023 when he went into cardiac arrest during a Trojans practice.

Following this scare, he underwent a medical procedure to address a congenital heart defect, a turning point in his young career.

Adding to the whirlwind, the Lakers made headlines by selecting him in the second round of the NBA draft, which sparked intrigue and controversy.

This move enabled him to make history by playing alongside his father. After appearing in a few NBA games, James shifted his focus to development, honing his skills with the South Bay Lakers and taking part in this week’s G League Showcase in Orlando.

“I’ve become resilient over these past couple of years fighting through injuries, mental illness, stuff like that,” James told Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “Just, you know, coming in and working every day and staying the course.”

The intense public spotlight on James, especially as a 20-year-old rookie, could be overwhelming, but he has learned to tune out the noise, remarking that outside opinions “fly in one ear and out the other.”

His four-year, $7.9 million contract provides stability as he dedicates himself to improving his game and carving out a lasting NBA career.

However, beyond the court, James remains deeply aware of how fortunate he is to still have the opportunity to play, following the serious health emergency that could have ended it all.

“My family, my parents, they are extremely thankful that I’m not only able to play basketball but also just walk around and speak to other people,” Bronny said.

“It’s a blessing to be able to play this sport that I love. There’s a chance I wasn’t going to be able to. So I wake up and I’m thankful for that every day.”