LOS ANGELES — The When there was 12 minutes and 58 seconds left in the first half of the first half on Sunday afternoon, the crowd at the Galen Center stood up. Two hours before the game was scheduled to begin, students from the University of Southern California formed a queue that encircled the arena. Other Trojan fans have been waiting for this for a considerable amount of time.
Bronny James, a McDonald’s All-American guard, made his first appearance in college basketball during a game against Long Beach State that went into overtime. His father, NBA superstar LeBron James, was present at the courtside watching his son play. When the 19-year-old took his first shot in his first game since suffering a cardiac attack in July, the fans breathed a sigh of relief and the volume of the crowd increased each time he guarded a Long Beach State ball handler.
Despite the fact that he did not score in the first half (he failed to make his one and only shot attempt), he still managed to produce a highlight by making a chase-down block that was strikingly similar to the one that his father had made. During that same instant, the crowd went into a frenzy. Immediately after that, he followed it up with a brilliant assist on the opposite end of the court some moments later.
Although it was anticipated that James would be subject to a minutes restriction, he ended up playing for a total of sixteen minutes off the bench during the game and was even present to begin overtime. In the second half, he made his first basket of his college career with a transition three-pointer, but the lead that USC had at halftime, which was 15 points, gradually eroded over the course of the final twenty minutes of the game.
Although James had a vital steal in the last minute of the game, he only hit one of his two attempts from the free throw line, which allowed Long Beach State to stay within two points of the Long Beach State Bulldogs, 74-72. USC was defeated by Long Beach State 84-79 in overtime after the game was deadlocked moments later. Long Beach State took the game to overtime. At the end of the game, James finished with four points (on a shooting percentage of one-of-three), three rebounds, and two assists.
After missing 16 free throws, turning the ball over 19 times, and shooting just 22.6 percent from outside the arc, the University of Southern California played a very sloppy game on Sunday.
The doctors gave James the all-clear to play basketball again on November 30. On Thursday, he returned to full-contact practice after gaining permission from the medical staff at the University of Southern California. The windmill dunk that James performed on Sunday was during the pregame shootaround that was being held.
After the game, James expressed his gratitude by saying, “I just want to say I’m thankful for everything.” I am grateful to the Mayo Clinic for all of the assistance they provided. Thanks to my parents and siblings for being there for me throughout this challenging period in my life. For your assistance in getting me through this, I just want to express my gratitude. My coach, my teammates, and the other coaches who have been with me from the beginning of my career are also included.
USC head coach Andy Enfield stated that he believed James “played well,” and he went on to say that James “defended at a high level.” He made a comeback. I believed that he was really solid since he had two thefts, two assists, and he made a three-point shot.
Earlier this week, Enfield stated that James had been boosting his cardio, individual drills, and weight lifting. He also stated that it will take some time for James to get his rhythm back and to get into game form. Enfield stated on Sunday that the squad will continue to keep an eye on James’ working hours, pointing out that the guard did not exceed his maximum allowed time.
During the game on Thursday, LeBron James stated that the time Bronny checked in would be a significant milestone for their family.
“You can be sure that it will be a momentous occasion for him. LeBron James stated that once he makes the decision to talk about it, he will be able to discuss it. With that being said, it is without a doubt a significant achievement for our family, and it is yet another step for him on his journey in his basketball career.
The University of Southern California has dropped from a position in the top 25 to a record of 5-4 after suffering defeats at the hands of UC Irvine, Oklahoma, Gonzaga, and Long Beach State. As of right now, the Trojans are not rated, and they still have two games left before they begin conference play.