LeBron James didn’t see the basketball court the way he usually does over the weekend. He was a happy dad in the stands instead of the star of the game!
The famous Los Angeles Lakers forward watched his son Bronny play in his first college basketball game on December 10. Earlier this year, the 19-year-old had a scary health scare during practice.
“I can’t even describe how emotional today was for me! This whole thing has worn me out, and all I can say is WOW, @bronny! D—the wins and losses that will happen. You’ve already won the most important prize of all: LIFE!!! I’m proud of you, kid, and you’ve given me more life today! “Thank you, and I love you,” the dad of three wrote in an emotional Instagram post. He and his wife Savannah, 37, have three children: Bronny, Bryce, 16, and Zhuri, 9.
“Young in the spotlight for USC debut,” an Instagram fan account called @lebron wrote in honor of the big day. One picture showed the 38-year-old and his mother, Gloria, recording the game while sitting courtside with their family. The other picture showed the back of Bronny’s jersey from a different angle, with his father and younger sister in the background. LeBron was clearly still proudly filming his son play on his iPhone.
Even though one of the biggest stars in the NBA was watching from the stands and cheering for USC, the Long Beach State 49ers beat the Trojans 84–79.
After the game, Bronny thanked everyone for their help after having a heart attack while training in July, which kept him out of the first eight games of the season.
“I just want to say I’m thankful for everything,” the Division I guard said after his team lost on Sunday. “The Mayo Clinic and everything they helped me with; my parents and siblings for supporting me through this hard time in my life.”
Bronny said, “I just want to thank everyone who has helped me through this.” He had been in the hospital for three days before doctors found that the cardiac arrest was probably caused by a birth defect in the heart.
LeBron talked about his son’s health problems at his post-game news conference in October. He said, “To see what he had to go through, or what he’s been through, over the last few months, you know, it’s been a lot.” I can’t even begin to think how hard it must be for him. It’s been hard for me and our family.
“He’s moving so well that you wouldn’t even know he had what he had.” How full of life he is. “It’s just wonderful to have him where he is now,” the famous athlete said in the end.