EXCLUSIVE: LeBron James is ‘scared and devastated’ after son Bronny’s cardiac arrest during USC practice as cardiologist warns ‘this could end his career’
- LeBron is ‘making sure Bronny gets the best care possible’ and has entered ‘full Dad mode, protecting his son in any way he can,’ a source told DailyMail.com
- The 18-year-old is now in a stable in condition and no longer in intensive care
- But cardiologists have warned that Bronny’s career – which was only just beginning following his high school graduation – could already be over
LeBron James is ‘scared and devastated’ following his son Bronny’s cardiac arrest during USC practice, friends have revealed.
The 18-year-old basketball protégé was rushed to hospital and admitted to ICU after collapsing at USC’s Galen Center on Monday, his family revealed today.
LeBron is ‘making sure he gets the best care possible’ and has entered ‘full Dad mode and protecting his son in any way he can do that,’ a source told DailyMail.com.
Cardiologists have warned that Bronny’s career – which was only just beginning following his high school graduation – could already be over.
Dr Christopher Tanayan told DailyMail.com: ‘Whether it’ll end his career depends on the work up – if they find something that puts him at greater risk for sudden death then yeah.’
LeBron James, left, poses with his son Bronny after Sierra Canyon beat Akron St. Vincent – St. Mary in a high school basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio
NFL star Damar Hamliin posing with Lebron James earlier this year. Following the emergency, Hamlin – who suffered his own cardiac arrest while playing against the Bengals on January 2 – tweeted: ‘Prayers to Bronny & The James family as well … Here for you guys just like you have been for me my entire process’
LeBron James ‘s son, Bronny, has suffered a cardiac arrest during a basketball workout. Pictured: The 18-year-old posed with his rumored girlfriend Peyton Gelfuso, 19, in May
Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin sent his prayers to Bronny and the James family Tuesday
The 18-year-old is said to now be in stable condition and is no longer in the ICU
The NY-based sports cardiologist said that a large proportion of cardiac arrest cases in athletes are caused by a condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which predisposes the heart to abnormal rhythms.
He said if the cause is found to be hypertrophic cardiomyopathy then Bronny is ‘at greater risk of sudden death.’
Whether or not Bronny’s career can continue will depend upon his family, the league and ultimately his own ‘appetite for risk,’ Dr Tanayan added.
A source close to the James’ told DailyMail.com: ‘LeBron is keeping things as close to himself and his family as possible but is also keeping others like his agents and main people in the Lakers organization privy to what is going on.
‘He is scared and devastated with what has transpired with his son. The family is making sure he gets the best care possible as his well-being is the most important thing right now.
‘LeBron has no other feelings besides making sure his son will be OK. LeBron’s only focus is devoted to Bronny’s recovery. It is going to be the only thing on his mind, he is in full dad mode and protecting his son in any way he can do that.’
Bronny, who recently committed to the Trojans, was rushed to hospital in an ambulance after a 911 call was made at 9.26am Monday.
The incident is believed to have been a Code 3, which signifies the seriousness of the call as it requires ambulance lights and sirens.
A spokesman for the James family said: ‘Yesterday while practicing Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. 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.’
NFL star Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this year while playing for the Buffalo Bills, was among those sending their well wishes to the James’.
‘Prayers to Bronny & The James family as well,’ Hamlin tweeted alongside a praying emoji. ‘Here for you guys just like you have been for me my entire process.’
LeBron James, Bryce James, Zhuri James, Savannah James and Bronny James at The 2023 ESPYS held at Dolby Theatre
Bronny’s cardiac arrest comes less than seven months after Hamlin collapsed on the field while playing against the Cincinnati Bengals and had to be resuscitated.
Hamlin is preparing for a miraculous return to the league and has been practicing with teammates ahead of the new season.
His incredible return to fitness, and the fact Hamlin is alive today, is solely down to the medical staff that treated him in the immediate aftermath of the incident in Cincinnati.
Bronny’s emergency is the second time in 12 months that USC medical staff have responded to a basketball player with a cardiac arrest during practice.
Last summer, Vince Iwuchukwu collapsed at a practice and was revived by USC athletic trainers. He returned to playing basketball six months later.
As speculation swirled over Bronny’s fate, Twitter CEO Elon Musk drew a fierce backlash after claiming that the COVID-19 vaccine may have been responsible.
‘We cannot ascribe everything to the vaccine, but, by the same token, we cannot ascribe nothing,’ Musk wrote in response to a media report about Bronny.
‘Myocarditis is a known side-effect. The only question is whether it is rare or common.’
There was a swift backlash as one user commented: ‘Elon Musk appears to be claiming without a shred of evidence that Bronny James’s cardiac arrest is linked to the Covid vaccine.’
Another said: ‘Elon Musk is replying to tweets about Bronny with conspiracies about the vaccine. The James family is already going through a tremendously difficult moment and now the owner of this website is helping direct the crazies at them.’
Bronny, who committed to USC in May, took another step on the path to following his father’s basketball footsteps by choosing to wear his iconic No 6 at the school for his freshman year.
USC revealed the exciting news on their Twitter page, writing alongside a graphic: ‘FIRST LOOK: Bronny James will wear No. 6 for the Trojans.’
Bronny James will wear No 6 for USC this year – a tip of the hat to legendary NBA father
LeBron James – the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer – is famed for wearing No 6 at Lakers
Bronny James and Dwyane Wade attend The 2023 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre
LeBron was last spotted on July 21 hugging Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi before a Leagues Cup soccer match against Cruz Azul in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Bronny James in attendance as the Los Angeles Lakers play against the Golden State Warriors
LeBron ‘Bronny’ James Jr. #0 of Sierra Canyon High School with his father LeBron James
McDonalds High School All American Bronny James (6) talks with his father LeBron James
Bronny, pictured with LeBron James, Zhuri James and Bryce James at The 2023 ESPYS, was taken by ambulance from USC’s Galen Center, where the school’s basketball team plays
His father LeBron is synonymous with the No 6 from his glittering career with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat – although he has also worn No 23 before.
This year, the 38-year-old James became the leading points scorer in the all-time history of the NBA, overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s tally of 38,387 career points.
LeBron is believed to want to keep playing in the NBA until Bronny can join him in the league.
‘I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,’ James told ESPN in January.
‘Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him,’ he said. ‘. . . But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure.’
James is under contract for two more years in LA while his son could enter the NBA in the 2024 Draft after playing a season at USC.
He was last seen hugging Lionel Messi at his match in Fort Lauderdale last week.
A member of the Sierra Canyon School’s Class of 2023, Bronny graduated form the California high school in May, where proud parents LeBron and Savannah could be seen beaming.
The graduation came just days after Bronny and his rumored girlfriend Peyton Gelfuso, 19, suffered vile racist abuse from trolls on social media.
His mom, Savannah, had shared photos of the young couple attending Bronny’s senior prom.
The 6-foot-3 guard donned a custom black Chrome Hearts suit and Dior shoes for the occasion, while Peyton dazzled in a strapless, black satin dress.
But trolls launched attacks at Bronny as some people on the internet were not happy with his decision to take someone who is ‘light skinned’ to prom, and social media was soon flooded with a slew of nasty comments about the pairing.
Bronny suited up for his senior prom at the weekend as he heads to USC for next season
The rising star’s mom, Savannah James, shared photos of Bronny posing outside the family home, even in front of a black Porsche, to Instagram
Some people on the internet were not happy with his decision to take someone who is ‘light skinned’ to prom, and they took to Twitter to share their thoughts
Gelfuso previously attended Sierra Canyon High School, where Bronny was a senior
Peyton reportedly attended Sierra Canyon, graduating the year before Bronny, and appears to split her time between Los Angeles and Dallas as she attends Southern Methodist University (SMU), where she is a member of the Tri Delta sorority, according to her Instagram bio.
Bronny had already committed to USC in May after having several programs interested in him, including scholarship offers from Ohio State and Oregon.
The younger James announced his decision on Instagram, ending more than a year of speculation about his future. ‘Fight On,’ he wrote, referencing a Trojans slogan and adding the hashtag, ‘#committed.’
Unsurprisingly, Bronny chose a Nike school, aligning him with the apparel giant that has helped turn his father into a billionaire. And as an added benefit, he is remaining in the LA area, playing less than an hour from his high school, Sierra Canyon.
Bronny’s commitment was a major coup for a basketball program that has traditionally been overshadowed by Trojans football.
Bronny, who graduated this year, could have a one-and-done collegiate career and, if he declares for the 2024 NBA Draft, is expected to be a mid-first-round pick
(L-R) LeBron James, winner of Best Record-Breaking Performance, Bronny James, Bryce James, Savannah James and Zhuri James speak onstage during The 2023 ESPY Awards
Coach Andy Enfield’s team has reached the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive seasons but has been bounced in the first round in each of the last two years.
Enfield previously got commitments from Isaiah Collier, who is considered by many to be the top recruit in the class of 2023. The 6-foot-3 guard could team in the Trojan backcourt with Bronny next season. Furthermore, four-star center Arrinten Page has also committed to USC.
The team also returns Reese Dixon-Waters, a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 9.8 points a game last season.
However, following vile racist abuse he and his girlfriend suffered, USC reportedly began preparations for the new level of scrutiny – and the potential A-List stars – Bronny’s arrival would signal.
USC was considering creating a ‘separate entrance for celebrities and other VIPs,’ who want to watch LeBron’s son and potential future NBA star, according to ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.
The college was also planning to boost its security measures to contend with Bronny’s presence and the famous figures, including his NBA icon dad, and the increased attendance it will bring.
Bronny is not pegged to be the ‘Next LeBron,’ nor is he some watered-down version of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
For starters, his father skipped the NCAA level in 2003 because the NBA had yet to implement its controversial one-and-done rule, requiring prospects to be one year removed from their high school class’s graduation before being draft eligible.
Instead, Bronny is very much his own player, and one that some insiders see as a potential top-10 pick in 2024.
He’s always been a highly visible part of LeBron’s orbit alongside mother Savannah – LeBron’s high school sweetheart from Akron – as well as younger sister Zhuri and brother Bryce, another highly recruited player.
But it wasn’t until 2019, when Bronny enrolled at Sierra Canyon alongside the son of his father’s former teammate, Dwyane Wade, that he began drawing attention for his own play.
Since then, Bronny has filled out to 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, a far cry from his 6-foot-9 father, but plenty tall enough to get scholarship offers.
Bryce James, LeBron James, Bronny James, Carmelo Anthony and Kiyan Anthony pose at the Sierra Canyon vs Christ The King boys basketball game at Sierra Canyon High School
Bronny and Bryce James speak onstage during The 2023 ESPY Awards
Bronny James #6 of Team USA dunks the ball during the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit on April 8
At the ESPYs as LeBron claimed the latest of many personal prizes that he’s won throughout his 20-year career, he said: ‘I don’t care how many more points I score, what I can and cannot do on the floor.
‘The real question for me is can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give the game everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done.
‘Lucky for you guys, that is not today.’
The speech was the latest in a series of hints from the NBA legend that he is not ready to step away from the NBA just yet with the goal of potentially playing with his son on the horizon.
‘I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,’ James told ESPN in January.
‘Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him,’ he said. ‘. . . But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure.’
Bronny could have a one-and-done collegiate career and, if he declares for the 2024 NBA Draft, is expected to be a mid-first-round pick.
What IS the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest vs heart attack
‘Cardiac’ comes from the Greek word kardiakos, meaning ‘pertaining to the heart’.
‘Cardiac arrest’ was first used as a medical term in the 1950s.
It is sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably with the phrase ‘heart attack’.
Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops pumping (it may quiver or flutter instead) due to an electrical malfunction.
It can be triggered by a heart condition, choking, electric shocks, or losing a lot of blood.
If the heart cannot pump blood in a normal way, then the body is starved of oxygen and this can result in a loss of consciousness and even death if not treated quickly.
A heart attack, meanwhile, is where cardiac tissue dies due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood.
This can be due to narrowed arteries and a clot.
The signs of a heart attack can be immediate, but more commonly it is a slow onset of symptoms persisting from hours to days: chest pain, light-headedness and shortness of breath are all warning signs. This can lead to cardiac arrest, but not always.
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