This Teen is Back on the Court After Life-Changing Heart Condition
Anwar Stetson
Who doesn’t want to dunk on their dad? You may have seen this viral clip of Jason Maxiell II at home dunking on his father, former NBA player Jason Maxiell, in early July. The wholesome moment shows an unsuspecting Maxiell measuring the height of a toy hoop fixed in the family living room.
The younger Maxiell then gets a satisfying posterizing dunk over dad in a clip that has made the rounds on social media. But what seems like just a silly family prank has a much more serious back story.
You may remember Jason Maxiell as a big, bruising, power forward for the second incarnation of the “Bad Boys” Pistons in the early 2000s. After a 12-year career that spanned the NBA and international basketball, Maxiell retired in 2017. He started a family with wife Brandi, a reality TV star known for the series Basketball Wives. Brandi Maxiell detailed her battle with ovarian cancer and IVF treatments, after which she successfully gave birth to her “miracle baby” Jason II in 2011.
A healthy and physically active child, Jason II played sports growing up, just like his father. After a knee injury led to a routine checkup with doctors, a cardiologist diagnosed Jason II with Anomalous Right Coronary Artery (ARCA), a rare and sometimes fatal heart condition that may affect as little as 0.45% of the general population.
In an emotional interview released earlier this year, Jason and Brandi teared up when Jason II learned of his diagnosis and told them, “I don’t want to die.”
After a successful surgery in 2023, Jason II returned to playing sports. Now 13 years old, he’s a dual-sport star, playing basketball and football. Representing the Class of 2030, the future five-star athlete plays club basketball for AB Elite, and he will play football for South Carroll High School (TX).
Despite obstacles, Jason II never gave up his love for the game, and that serves as an inspiration for youth athletes overcoming the greatest of challenges.