The USC Basketball season tips off on Nov. 9, but Bronny’s availability for the season remains unknown

USC basketball player Bronny James jokes around on the sidelines during a game between the San Jose State Spartans and the USC Trojans on August 26, 2023. PHOTO:

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Bronny James, the eldest son of NBA legend LeBron James, looked ready for action in the first photos showing the basketball royalty in his collegiate jersey.

USC Basketball’s official Instagram account debuted the first look of Bronny, 18, donning his debut red-and-gold threads for the Trojans.

Bronny was pictured in his No. 6 jersey in front of a fiery backdrop in the photos, which the university said will be part of a team introduction video for the season.

LeBron, 38, briefly wore the same number as Bronny when he played for the Miami Heat in 2010, and later changed back to No. 23 when he returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014.

Additional photos shared by the team show Bronny’s USC teammates, including top prospects Kobe Johnson and Brandon Gardner, posing in front of Los Angeles-inspired imagery of palm trees and the city’s skyline for the team’s video shoot.

USC Basketball will kick off their season on Nov. 9. at Galen Center when they host Cal State Bakersfield.

Bronny’s availability for the Trojans’ season remains unknown as the former Sierra Canyon star recovers following “an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect” diagnosis in August.

LeBron James’ Son: All About Bronny James and His Relationship With His NBA Star Father

The prognosis came after Bronny spent two days in the hospital in July after experiencing cardiac arrest while working out at the university.

Bronny James #6 of Team USA.

SAM FORENCICH/NBAE/GETTY

“After a comprehensive initial evaluation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center led by Dr. Merije Chukumerije and follow-up evaluations at the Mayo Clinic led by Dr. Michael J. Ackerman and Atlantic Health/Morristown Medical Center led by Dr. Matthew W. Martinez, the probable cause of Mr. James’ sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) has been identified,” a statement from the James family said, explaining that he had a “significant congenital heart defect” that he underwent surgery for last month.

Bronny did not participate in the team’s first practice of the season on Sept. 23, USC Basketball head coach Andy Enfield told ESPN.

Coach Enfield added, “Bronny’s doing very well, but we just can’t comment on anything medically. He’s going to class and doing extremely well in school, and we’re really excited for him.”

In May, LeBron said the day his son committed to play basketball for USC was “one of the best days of my life.”

“First of all, congratulations to Bronny on his decision he made. I’m super proud of him, our family is proud of him,” LeBron said on Spectrum SportsNet at the time. “For me personally, it’s even more special to me because it’s the first time someone out of my family to go to college. Obviously, I didn’t go to college.”

LeBron ‘Bronny’ James Jr. #0 of Sierra Canyon High School with his father LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.

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He continued: “It’s just a proud moment to see my son go to college, and he’s the first one to go college in my family. Super duper proud, super emotional, but just super duper excited and happy for his journey,” he concluded.

On Saturday, Bronny’s younger brother Bryce James revealed that he received an offer to play basketball at Ohio State University in Columbus, which is just 125 miles from where his dad was born and raised in Akron.

“Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State #GoBuckeyes,” the teen wrote on X alongside an image of the school’s logo.

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a picture with his family at the end of the game, (L-R) Bronny James, Bryce James, Zhuri James Savannah James and Gloria James, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s career total of 38,387 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena on February 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

According to ESPN, Bryce’s offer comes the same day he unofficially visited the Ohio State campus, where he watched the football team win 37-17 against the University of Maryland, College Park’s Terrapins.

ESPN currently has Bryce — a junior enrolled at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California — ranked as a four-star recruit, averaging 7.6 points in 15 games during the Nike EYBL 16U circuit over spring and summer.