According to the statement, James, 18, fell during practice and was brought to the hospital. According to a family spokesman, he is no longer in the intensive care unit.
“Medical personnel were able to treat Bronny and transport him to the hospital,” a spokeswoman added. “He is now stable and no longer in the intensive care unit.”
We request respect and privacy for the James family, and we will notify the media as additional information becomes available.
“LeBron and Savannah would like to publicly express their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to their athletes’ safety.”
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart abruptly stops pumping blood, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Blood does not flow to the brain or other vital organs when this happens.
Bronny James, the oldest of LeBron’s three children, committed to USC in May, beating out Ohio State, Oregon, G-League Ignite, and Overtime Elite. The McDonald’s All-American was the No. 21 player in the 2023 class and is part of a USC freshman class that rated fourth nationwide.
Last season, the Trojans were a predicted Top 25 team before losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Michigan State.
LeBron called the day he committed “one of the best days of (his) life,” adding that his son will be the family’s first college student. “No matter the outcome of this game, I couldn’t lose today,” LeBron stated after the Lakers’ playoff victory.
He earlier stated that he would prefer to finish his career beside his son.
“My last year will be played with my son,” James said in February 2022 to The Athletic. “I’m going to be wherever Bronny is.” I would go to any length to spend a year playing with my son. At that moment, it’s not about the money.”
The incident on Monday came a year after USC’s Vince Iwuchukwu went into cardiac arrest during an informal workout last July. The 7-foot-1 forward was out for six months before returning in January and played 14 games in his rookie season in 2022-23.
The USC training staff members that reacted to Iwuchukwu were awarded earlier this year with the California Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Lifesaver Award.
Former Florida basketball forward Keyontae Johnson fell minutes after tipoff in a game against Florida State in December 2020. He missed nearly two seasons and was subsequently diagnosed with “athlete’s heart” – an increase in cardiac mass as a result of systemic training.
Johnson returned to the floor last season after transferring to Kansas State and was picked in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder in June.
Damar Hamlin, a Buffalo Bills safety who fell and went into cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game against the Bengals in January, expressed his support for the James family on social media.
“Prayers to Bronny& The James Family as well,” Hamlin tweeted. “I’m here for you guys, just as you’ve been for me throughout this entire process.”
