USC guard Bronny James’s cardiac arrest during a July 24 practice was most likely caused by a congenital heart defect, a James family spokesperson announced in a Friday evening release.
“After a comprehensive initial evaluation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center led by Dr. Merije Chukumerije and follow-up evaluations at the Mayo Clinic led by Dr. Michael J. Ackerman and Atlantic Health/Morristown Medical Center led by Dr. Matthew W. Martinez, the probable cause of Mr. James's sudden cardiac arrest has been identified,” the statement read. “It is an anatomically and functionally significant Congenital Heart Defect which can and will be treated.”
The release went on to characterize James’s doctors as “very confident in Bronny’s full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future.”
James is the son of Lakers forward LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
News broke of James’s health scare on July 25, as the James family revealed in a statement Bronny had collapsed during a Trojans practice. He was taken to the hospital and briefly treated in the intensive care unit, which he left after being stabilized.
After being discharged from the hospital, Bronny made multiple public appearances with his father while recovering, including at a Dodgers game and Drake concert.
USC is scheduled to open its season on Nov. 6 against Kansas State in Las Vegas.
