Bronny James, son of NBA legend LeBron James, experienced a cardiac arrest during a basketball practice session at the University of Southern California (USC). A family representative confirmed that he was immediately rushed to the hospital on Monday. The young athlete has since been moved out of the intensive care unit and is currently in stable condition.
The family spokesperson stated that Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest during practice, but the medical team quickly responded and provided necessary treatment. He was then transported to the hospital, where he is now stable and no longer requires intensive care. The family has requested respect and privacy and will provide updates when more information is available.
LeBron and Savannah James, Bronny’s parents, expressed their deep gratitude to the USC medical and athletic staff for their exceptional work and commitment to the safety of their athletes. Bronny, 18, recently graduated from Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles and is set to join USC’s basketball team as a freshman. The 6-foot-3 combo guard was a four-star recruit and had an impressive performance in the McDonald’s All-American Game in March, featuring some of the country’s top high school basketball players.
During his senior year of high school, Bronny averaged 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals. He is joining a USC team aiming to make it to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive time. LeBron James, who is preparing for his 21st NBA season and his sixth with the Los Angeles Lakers, expressed his pride and love for his son on Instagram after Bronny committed to USC.
Cardiac arrest is a serious condition where the heart suddenly stops beating due to electrical disturbances. According to the American Heart Association, it can be fatal if not treated immediately but can be reversed with CPR and defibrillator shocks. Over 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of US hospitals each year.
The USC medical staff has had recent experience with such incidents. Last July, USC freshman forward Vince Iwuchukwu suffered a cardiac arrest during a summer workout. He recovered and made his basketball debut in January six months later. USC’s head coach Andy Enfield commended the training staff for their readiness to respond immediately in such serious situations.
Last year, Damar Hamlin of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills also suffered a cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game and was hospitalized for over a week. On Tuesday, he sent his prayers to Bronny and the James family on Twitter.