The son of the NBA star LeBron James collapsed on the basketball court Monday, suffering from cardiac arrest, his family said Tuesday.
Bronny James, 18, was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles and admitted to the intensive care unit.
The University of Southern California (USC) signee is now in stable condition and no longer in the ICU, his family said.
“Yesterday, while practicing, Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest,” a family spokesperson said in a statement. “Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital.”
Bronny James has been projected to be a first-round NBA draft choice after his freshman season at USC. LeBron James, who plays with the Los Angeles Lakers, has said he wants to end his NBA career by playing on the same team as Bronny.
“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.”
TMZ Sports, citing sources, said a 911 call was made at 9:26 a.m. Monday from USC’s Galen Center, where Bronny James was unconscious after collapsing.
James was a McDonald’s All-American player who graduated from Sierra Canyon High School.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, this is the second straight off-season a USC basketball player has suffered from cardiac arrest.
Last year, 7-foot center Vince Iwuchuku collapsed during an informal workout in July 2022. The five-star recruit was hospitalized for a few days, then returned to the team. He played in 14 games in the second half of the 2022-2023 season.
The American Heart Association says cardiac arrest occurs when the heart “malfunctions and stops beating unexpectedly.” It differs from a heart attack, which happens when blood flow to the organ is blocked.