Bronny James, LeBron's son, suffers cardiac arrest during basketball practice at USC
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Bronny James, a member of the USC Trojans' basketball team and son of Lakers star LeBron James, was hospitalized Monday after suffering cardiac arrest during a practice session, a family spokesperson confirmed.
"Yesterday while practicing Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest," the spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday morning, adding that medical staff were able to treat the younger James and transport him to the hospital.
Bronny James "is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU," the statement said. "We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update media when there is more information. LeBron and Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes."
Bronny James, 18, is entering his freshman year at USC and is ranked 20th in the 2023 ESPN 100 rankings. He is the sixth-rated point guard in the Class of 2023.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest during an NFL game last season, tweeted his support: "Prayers to Bronny & The James Family as well (prayer emoji) here for you guys just like you have been for me my entire process."
Sudden cardiac arrest kills up to 450,000 Americans every year. Only 40% of people who suffer one receive CPR. One ambitious Los Angeles County health campaign is hoping to train a record number of people at sporting events, malls and entertainment venues.
Seventy percent of cardiac arrests happen outside of the hospital, and there's only a 10% chance of survival. That's why the more people who know bystander CPR, the more lives can be saved.
Just over a year ago, USC freshman 7-footer Vince Iwuchukwu collapsed during a practice. Iwuchukwu went into cardiac arrest on July 1, 2022, with athletic trainers rushing to used an automated external defibrillator to revive him.
Iwuchukwu had a battery-powered pulse generator known as an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implanted in his chest, the Los Angeles Times reported. Iwuchukwu was able to play for the Trojans during the second half of last season.
LeBron James has said one of his final goals before retirement is to play in the NBA with his son.
"I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny," James said during an interview with ESPN in January. "I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure."
At this month's ESPY Awards, LeBron James accepted the award for best recording-breaking performance from his sons, Bronny and Bryce. During the awards show, Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin presented the Pat Tillman Service Award to his team's training staff, which saved his life after he suffered cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game in January.
ESPN, ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
