LeBron James’ son rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest
Sierra Canyon's Bronny James warms up at halftime during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic on Jan. 16 in Springfield, Mass. Gregory Payan / AP file
Bronny James, son of basketball icon LeBron James, collapsed during a workout in Los Angeles Monday and was rushed to the hospital, the family said.
“Yesterday while practicing Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital,” according to a family statement.
“He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU. 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, announced earlier this year that he plans to play basketball at the University of Southern California, where the medical emergency unfolded.
Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during a game in January, Tweeted his support:
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical emergency in the 3400 block of South Figueroa Street at 9:26 a.m. PT on Monday and took an adult male to the hospital, a department spokesperson said.
The Galen Center, the home arena of USC basketball, is at 3400. S. Figueroa St.
The 6-foot-3 James was a McDonald’s All-American and was one of the nation’s most heralded players coming out of Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles.
His commitment to USC was covered by national media and LeBron James, 38, has said he hopes to stay in the NBA long enough to share the pro hardwood with his oldest son.
The heart health of athletes has always been a concern in the world of sports, but has been the focus of several high profile incidents recently.
Cartier Woods, an 18-year-old high school basketball player from Detroit, died earlier this year suffering cardiac arrest during a game.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during his team’s nationally televised game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2.
And perhaps the most famous on-court death unfolded in Los Angeles, when Loyola Marymount’s Hank Gathers collapsed during a game in 1990.