The son narrowly escaped death due to a heart issue! James strongly supports Bronny: Screw that.

Today, the American media The Athletic published an article titled: "Bronny and his father LeBron play together, helping the Lakers win: 'He belongs on this court.'" The full text is as follows:

During the second half of Wednesday's game, Lakers head coach Redick's substitution list featured two names, two teammates standing side by side at the scorer's table.

The Lakers player on the right tried hard to focus on the game, calming his breathing and concentrating on the task ahead: defend well, give full effort, stay aggressive. The Lakers player on the left tried to immerse himself in the moment—this special bond cultivated over many years, something no other teammates in the NBA have shared.

Both leaned back against the blue cushion atop the scorer's table, waiting for the buzzer to enter the game. They crossed their arms in exactly the same way.

Near the end of the third quarter, during a stoppage, the announcer declared: "Lakers substitution, Bronny James II and LeBron James entering."

Since these teammates made NBA history as the first father-son duo to play together, too much has happened over the past 16-plus months. For Bronny, as he strives to secure a regular rotation spot in the league, that novelty has largely faded—even though during Wednesday night's third quarter, as the Lakers won 137-130, he noticed he and his father stood with identical posture, a curious manifestation of genetics.

“I've been around my father on the basketball court for a long time, so it's not that special,” Bronny said postgame. “The first few times were definitely special, but now it's my second season. I just want to prove myself.”

With Smart injured in the ankle and the team urgently wanting to return home, the Lakers desperately needed an energy boost. After assessing the roster, the coaching staff decided Bronny should fill that role.

“It felt like we really needed him in this game,” Redick said. “His athleticism, defense… we saw it last year, and this year we've witnessed his growth as a player again.”

But for the teammate standing beside Bronny, Wednesday was absolutely meaningful. The father-son pairing wasn't a spectacle; it was another milestone on the extraordinary comeback journey of this 2024 Lakers second-round pick—people often forget how winding that road has been when discussing it.

“Especially knowing the path he has walked…” LeBron James told The Athletic. “So, proud of him. I'm super proud of him. He belongs on this court, he belongs.”

That path took a turn on July 24, 2023—Bronny suffered cardiac arrest during summer training with the USC basketball team. Trainers and emergency responders saved his life; surgery corrected a congenital heart defect.

In a recent conversation about basketball, LeBron said he saw a certain look in his eldest son's eyes—one he hadn't seen since the incident. He said that look meant his son was declaring “I'm back to where I was”—confidence in his skills, body, and mindset reunited.

“Physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, he's back,” LeBron said.

For the Lakers, Wednesday night reaffirmed the team's belief: Bronny belongs in the NBA, investing in his development is wise, and positioning him as the “top case” in the player development plan signals positive prospects for the team's planning.

Beyond the plain season stats—just by visual observation, especially when given ample playing time like Wednesday, Redick and the Lakers are convinced they have a genuine NBA player.

After the game, Redick said Bronny defended excellently in the first half. A one-handed baseline dunk showed he's learning to consistently unleash his athletic gifts. A mid-range pull-up jumper late in the fourth quarter stabilized the situation as the Pacers mounted a final push.

All this happened as the Lakers fought hard for a win—they secured their fifth victory in a six-game road trip, about to head home.

Before the game, the Lakers coaching staff felt nervous about the upcoming 48 minutes. The Pacers had just beaten the Magic; the coaches believed they were far stronger than their 16-57 record indicated. The Lakers were exhausted, eager to end the road trip, with guards nearing depletion after consecutive games against the Nuggets, Rockets, Heat, Magic, and Pistons. The team also faced injuries—Smart, Hachimura, Ayton, and Tielo were all unavailable.

With Doncic starting strong again, the Lakers quickly took the lead. Bronny entered late in the first quarter with the team up by 17; when he left in the second quarter, the lead had reached 22 points. Throughout his stint, he never seemed out of place; everything flowed naturally.

“Real, meaningful playing time. I couldn't imagine anything better. I can't picture a more beautiful scene. Really can't,” LeBron told The Athletic. “Seeing him on the court, obviously he… has shown his progress over nearly two years, a year and a half. And why he belongs in this league, what he can do in this league.”

“So, the coaching staff trusting him tonight, giving him important minutes and letting him perform—and me being on the court alongside him—that feeling… I can't imagine a better feeling. Really can't.”

Those following the NBA G League easily noticed Bronny's improvement. After a slow start in the league's early-season tournament, he impressed during his assignment, averaging 15.3 points with shooting splits of 54.6%/42.1%/90.9%.

This is an example of hard work paying off—just like the crossed-arm stance and astonishing leap, Bronny inherited that quality.

“That's who he is. Our family tradition. Our family never does things halfway. That's how we operate. Everyone in the family, all of us. Mom, sister, brother, dad, everyone does it. That's us… that's our roots. We come from the Midwest, from Akron, Ohio, where nothing is given to you for free,” LeBron told The Athletic.

“So, like I said before, this kid didn't have to be like this. After everything he went through, do you think he really had to push so hard to recover and return to the court? He could have said ‘Screw it, I'll do whatever I want.’”

On Wednesday, Bronny got what he wanted.

“It felt good,” he said postgame. “Just going out and playing my game, being confident in myself. That's always what I wanted.”