According to AP source, Bronny James is receiving medical clearance to play in the NBA

NBA teams were informed Monday that Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, has been medically cleared to play in the league and is expected to participate in the draft combine this week, a person familiar with the matter said told The Associated Press.

Teams were informed of the release in a memo sent Monday morning, according to the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league has not released details publicly. All players at the draft combine in Chicago undergo medical examinations.

ESPN first reported the NBA's decision.

The release decision was likely expected since Bronny James played in the final 25 games for Southern California as a rookie last season. During a training session in July 2023, he suffered cardiac arrest and required surgery to repair a heart defect diagnosed as a congenital heart defect. He was subsequently absent for several months while recovering.

The NBA convened a so-called fitness-to-play panel — three doctors who review medical records — to decide whether James should be cleared. They determined that he is “medically fit and fit to play basketball in the NBA,” meaning he can participate in the combine.

James is on the roster to take part in games on the field on Tuesday, although rosters and schedules often change at the combine. All combine players are also expected to attend a media session on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists at USC last season. He has until the end of this month to decide whether he will remain in the draft or return to college basketball for at least another season.

LeBron James — the NBA's all-time leading scorer and someone who just finished his 21st season in the league — has said many times in recent years that he would like to play alongside his son in the league. But when that season ended, the Lakers star, who could become a free agent this summer, said he “haven't thought much about it lately” about playing on a team with Bronny James.

“The boy has to do what he wants to do – and I don't even want to say he's not a kid anymore – the young man is going to decide what he wants to do and how he wants his career to go,” said LeBron James, as the The Lakers' season ended with a playoff loss to Denver. “I think the fact that we’re even having this conversation is pretty cool in that sense.”

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