Los Angeles –
Bronnie James, the eldest son of NBA superstar LeBron James, suffered cardiac arrest while attending a practice at the University of Southern California and was hospitalized, a family spokesperson said Tuesday.
A spokeswoman said medical staff treated 18-year-old James on-site at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center Monday morning. He was taken to hospital and was in stable condition after being released from intensive care on Tuesday.
“We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and will update the media with any further information,” the spokesperson said. “LeBron and Savannah would like to publicly express their deep gratitude to USC medical and athletic staff for their excellent work and dedication to the safety of our athletes.”
University of Southern California spokesman Jeremy Pepper declined a request for comment or additional details from The Associated Press, citing student privacy concerns. The Associated Press also left a message requesting comment from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Buffalo Bills safety Dumar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest during an NFL game last season, tweeted, “Prayers for Bronnie and the James family (prayer emoji), I’m here to pray for you as you’ve done for me all this time.”
Bronnie James announced in May that he would be playing college basketball on the Trojan campus within three miles of his father’s Los Angeles Lakers’ downtown arena. The University of Southern California basketball team is practicing offseason in preparation for a two-week tour of Europe next month.
His father is the leading scorer and four-time champion in NBA history, but Bronnie James is an elite talent in his own right, ranking among the nation’s top point guard rookies before opting for the Trojan late in the commitment cycle.
On3.com estimates that Bronnie James leads the sports world with a $6.3 million valuation for his name, image and likeness thanks to his family fame and huge social media endorsement.
Bronnie’s decision to stay home was a coup for USC, which made its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament last March and is expected to be one of the most attractive teams in college basketball next season.
LeBron James has frequently spoken of his desire to play an NBA season with Bronnie, the first of three children with wife Savannah. His senior James recently announced that his 21st NBA season will start in the fall with the home-based Lakers starting in 2018.
Bronnie, whose given name is LeBron James Jr., was one of the country’s top college contenders last season as a star guard at Sierra Canyon School outside Chatsworth. His younger brother, 16-year-old Bryce, played for Sierra Canyon last season and transferred to Campbell Hall School in Studio City for the upcoming high school season.
Bronnie James, who fell just over a year after 7-foot-tall Vincent Iwchuk, a University of Southern California freshman, collapsed during practice, survived and returned to play later in the season with the Trojans.
A year ago, one of the top college basketball players in the country, Iw Chukwu suffered cardiac arrest on July 1, 2022, and was resuscitated by athletic trainers using an automated external defibrillator. The Los Angeles Times reported that Yiwchuk had a battery-powered pulse generator, known as an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, implanted in his chest.
Iucuk made his debut for the Trojans on January 12 and ended up making 14 appearances, including five starts. This season, he will return to USC where a strong team is expected.
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AP Sports reporters Eric Olson and Tom Withers contributed to this report.
