Bronny James has moved a step closer to his return to basketball with USC after taking part in warm-ups on Saturday night.

The 19-year-old was cleared for a full return to basketball by doctors Thursday, four months on from suffering cardiac arrest during a training session with USC.

He has not played since being rushed to hospital on July 25 but a statement from the James family revealed that Bronny could be back playing for the Trojans soon after returning to practice next week.

And a source revealed to DailyMail.com that LeBron and wife Savannah ‘wholeheartedly’ believe their son will be back on the hardwood this year.

On Saturday night he was all smiles as he took to the court alongside his teammates before their 89-76 loss to No. 11 Gonzaga in the Las Vegas Invitational.

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Bronny James took part in USC warm-ups on Saturday for the first time since being cleared

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Bronny showed no sign of rust as he scored seven consecutive 3-pointers at one point

Bronny showed no sign of rust as he scored seven consecutive 3-pointers at one point. He then lit up the crowd as he took flight and slammed home a one-handed dunk.

Bronny, clearly enjoying himself, then performed a spontaneous dance move with assistant coach Kurt Karis on the sideline.

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Bronny then lit up the crowd as he took flight and slammed home a one-handed dunk

When the game started, Bronny took his spot on the bench in gray USC sweats and stood at the back of the huddle during timeouts.

USC next play at home on December 10 against Long Beach State.

That happens to coincide with a six-day break for LeBron and the Lakers.

Despite that, LeBron revealed this week he would choose to miss a Lakers game to watch Bronny’s college basketball debut.

The 38-year-old James told ESPN on the same day of L.A.’s blowout loss to the OKC Thunder: ‘I already told my teammates that if they’re playing on the same day we’re playing then I’m going to catch them the next game.

‘Family over everything.’

DailyMail.com exclusively reported earlier this week that LeBron believes Bronny’s clearance to return is ‘the best Christmas gift the family could ask for’… and his dream of playing against his son in the NBA is ‘still a major goal for them both’.

‘LeBron wasn’t sugarcoating any of his words on Bronny’s basketball future, he was being truthful, no wishful thinking, the family is determined and believes, for a lack of a better word wholeheartedly that Bronny will play this year for USC and get back on the court and get to a point where he can announce himself for a future NBA Draft.

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Bronny then put on his grey USC sweats and sat on the bench to watch his team lose in Vegas

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It is still a ‘major goal’ for LeBron James (left) to play in the NBA with son Bronny (right)

‘They have only heard great things from his doctors. The plan is to have his health episode be just that, a moment in time that was serious but can be a moment where everyone can move on from and he can have a successful career in basketball and life.

‘The dream that LeBron and Bronny anticipate making a reality is to either play together or against each other in the NBA. That is still a major goal for them both.’

The Lakers superstar was naturally left elated at the news as it arrived as an early Christmas present for the entire family.

‘Lebron and the entire family are elated that Bronny is going to start playing for USC in the next couple of weeks,’ the source added.

‘It is something that Bronny has been hoping for all along and now that it is getting closer to a reality, this is the best Christmas gift that the family could ever ask for, and Bronny looks forward to making a spectacular stamp on the basketball court to get ready for his continued dreams in the NBA.

‘Everything is working out and Bronny is looking forward to meeting and exceeding all expectations people have put on him and that he puts on himself.’