Johni Broome Injury Update: What Happened to Auburn Star?

Auburn fans held their breath during Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup against No. 2 seed Michigan State when star forward Johni Broome went down hard with apparent elbow and leg injuries. The moment came in the second half of a heated battle at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, casting temporary doubt on Broome’s availability for the remainder of the game — and possibly the rest of Auburn’s NCAA Tournament run.

Here are the latest injury updates on Johni Broome, updated as of 2025.

What is Johni Broome’s injury?

Johni Broome appeared to suffer injuries to his left leg and right elbow following a fall under the basket with 10:47 remaining in the second half.

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The injury occurred when Michigan State’s Freddie Fidler missed a layup and Broome fell awkwardly while contesting the play. Just moments earlier, Auburn’s medical staff had been seen tending to Broome’s wrist, raising concern over multiple points of impact. As he walked off the court, Broome was moving gingerly and appeared to be in discomfort.

Did Johni Broome return to the game?

Yes, Broome returned to the game after briefly exiting to the locker room for evaluation.

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At the 5:29 mark of the second half, Broome checked back in and made an immediate impact, grabbing a rebound and knocking down a clutch 3-pointer. Despite his return, he was seen favoring his left arm and appeared hesitant to use his right arm on rebounds for the remainder of the game.

During Auburn’s postgame press conference, Broome had his elbow wrapped in ice, but reassured the media and fans that he was doing okay.

What did Johni Broome say about the injury?

After the game, Broome told reporters he was cleared by Auburn’s support staff and was determined to get back on the floor to help his team.

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“Went to the locker room. We have a good support staff. I checked my arm out. The doctor said nothing is wrong with it or anything serious, so at that moment I just wanted to help my teammates,” Broome said.

He also gave a thumbs up to CBS broadcasters Grant Hill and Bill Raftery during teammate Denver Jones’ free throw attempts, signaling that he was okay.

What did Bruce Pearl say about Broome’s injury?

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl addressed the media after the game and confirmed that he had not yet received a full diagnosis from the team doctors.

“I didn’t get any diagnosis. When Johni came out of the locker room, I had not talked to the doctor. But I asked him if he is good to go and he said, ‘I am,’” Pearl said.

Pearl added that while Broome was cleared to return in-game, the true extent of the injury likely won’t be known until further evaluation is done. He noted the elbow could be “pretty sore” the next day but was hopeful there was no structural damage.

“Obviously the doctors were able to examine it and determine there was no damage. I bet it will be pretty sore tomorrow though,” Pearl added.

What’s next for Johni Broome?

Broome will likely undergo further evaluation ahead of Auburn’s Final Four appearance.
Early signs point to the injury being manageable, but Auburn will be monitoring him closely as the team prepares for its next high-stakes matchup. His ability to play through pain and still contribute offensively bodes well for his status moving forward.