LeBron James’ eldest son, LeBron James Sr. (Bronny James for short), suffered cardiac arrest on July 24, 2023. It happened while he was working out at USC and he was immediately taken to the hospital.
Upon examination, the 18-year-old man suffered cardiac arrest due to a congenital heart defect. A spokesperson for LeBron James’ family announced the news:
“The probable cause of Mr. James’ sudden heart attack has been determined. It is an anatomically and functionally important congenital heart defect that can and will be treated.”
•
Bronny James is a young, promising rookie with a bright future that’s shocking the basketball world. Fortunately, his condition appears to be treatable and he is expected to make a full recovery.
What congenital heart disease does LeBron James’ son Bronny have?
A congenital heart defect is a problem that a person is born with and is related to the structure of the heart. There are many types of congenital heart defects, and while Bronny James’ heart issue has not been officially announced, it does not appear to be life or career-threatening.
Some congenital heart defects do not require surgery. However, there are also more complex cases in which a person requires multiple surgeries. Some types of treatment can take years, but that doesn’t appear to be the case with Bronny James. That’s great news for a guy with a bright basketball career ahead of him.
Another USC player suffers cardiac arrest before Bronny James
Another USC Trojan player, Vincent Iwuchukwu, also suffered a cardiac arrest about a year before Brownie’s incident. Iwuchukwu suffered a cardiac arrest in July 2022 and was cleared to compete on a very limited basis in January 2023.
Iwuchukwu also only fully recovered from surgery after receiving an implant to monitor his heart.
It’s unclear whether fans can expect Bronny James to return to on-court activities on the same schedule. Despite the eerie similarities between James’ and Iwuchukwu’s cardiac arrests, each incident is different.
Now, fans can only hope that the son of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar makes a full recovery.
Also read: LeBron James excitedly celebrates USC’s return as Bronny James’ USC jersey is displayed alongside his Lakers jersey.