What You Need to Know About Bronny James’ Cardiac Arrest
LeBron James Jr., the son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, an incoming freshman at the University of Southern California, collapsed Monday during practice after going into cardiac arrest. James Jr., known as Bronny, was hospitalized in intensive care but was later released from the ICU in stable condition, according to a statement from a spokesperson for LeBron James and his wife Savannah. James Jr. was released from Cedars Sinai on Thursday and sent home to rest.
Merije Chukumerije, cardiologist at Cedars, said in a statement that he was hopeful for Bronny James’s “continued progress and are encouraged by his response.”
This is what you need to know:
What happened?
According to the family’s statement, Bronny James was practicing with the USC men’s basketball team in Los Angeles when he went into cardiac arrest.
The Los Angeles Fire Department received a call for medical assistance and responded to the university’s Galen Center gymnasium at 9:26 a.m. According to the James family’s statement, medical personnel treated Bronny James and he was taken to the hospital.
In Cedars Sinai’s statement, Dr. Chukumerije that Bronny James arrived at the hospital “fully conscious, neurologically intact and stable.”
“LeBron and Savannah would like to publicly express their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes,” the James family said in their statement.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops and is different from a heart attack, in which blood flow to the heart is blocked. The survival rate for cardiac arrest treated with bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation is about 11 percent, but the rate increases to about 41 percent if victims receive immediate defibrillation. It is unclear what type of treatment Bronny James received.
Another USC player, Vincent Iwuchukwu, suffered a similar cardiac arrest during practice last summer, when he was also an incoming freshman. According to the Los Angeles Times, Iwuchukwu was revived with the help of a defibrillator and was hospitalized. He returned last season and played fourteen games for the team.
James would be eligible to enter the NBA draft after a year at USC LeBron. James, 38, has expressed his desire to play with Bronny in the NBA
What happens now?
The USC men’s basketball team was scheduled to make a 10-day trip to Greece and Croatia starting Aug. 5 to play three games against professional teams. according to a statement from the schoolIt was unclear whether those plans would change after James’ hospitalization.
Dr. Chukumerije said doctors would continue to monitor James and that “his investigations will continue.”
How have the reactions been?
James’ collapse and hospitalization were reminiscent of the incident in which Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a game in January.
“Prayers also for Bronny and the James family,” Hamlin posted on Tuesday. “Here for you, just as you have been for me throughout my entire process.”
Magic Johnson, another Lakers great, said he prayed for Bronny James and “hoping he makes a full and speedy recovery.”
