Bronny James has been discharged from hospital and is now resting at home, it was confirmed on Thursday, three days after the 18-year-old son of LeBron James went into cardiac arrest.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said in statement he had been successfully treated after being hospitalized on Monday morning after a basketball practice with his team at the University of Southern California.
Earlier on Thursday LeBron James said his family is “safe and healthy” posting a message of thanks on social media.
I want to thank the countless people sending my family love and prayers. We feel you and I’m so grateful. Everyone doing great. We have our family together, safe and healthy, and we feel your love. Will have more to say when we’re ready but I wanted to tell everyone how much your…
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 27, 2023
“I want to thank the countless people sending my family love and prayers,” LeBron James wrote. “We feel you and I’m so grateful. Everyone doing great. We have our family together, safe and healthy, and we feel your love. Will have more to say when we’re ready but I wanted to tell everyone how much your support has meant to all of us!”
He concluded his message with the hashtag “JamesGang,” his nickname for the tight-knit family unit built around his three children and his wife, Savannah.
Bronny James spent only a brief time in intensive care, a positive sign for his long-term recovery after the episode at USC’s Galen Center.
Dr Merije Chukumerije, a consulting cardiologist for Bronny James, said in a statement issued by the hospital on Thursday that James was “successfully treated for a sudden cardiac arrest” thanks to “the swift and effective response by the USC athletics’ medical staff” after the incident Monday.
“He arrived at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center fully conscious, neurologically intact and stable. Mr James was cared for promptly by highly-trained staff and has been discharged home, where he is resting. Although his workup will be ongoing, we are hopeful for his continued progress and are encouraged by his response, resilience, and his family and community support.”
Bronny James has built a promising basketball career for himself in his father’s considerable shadow, and was due to play for the University of Southern California this year.
LeBron James has been a vocal supporter of Bronny’s basketball career, and often flies to watch his son play during the NBA season.
“I understand how important fatherhood is, just coming from a no-father household,” said James in May. “We always try to support each other in all our endeavors. I’m only as good as my family.”
The 38-year-old has also spoken about his desire to continue his NBA career until he can play alongside Bronny.
“My last year will be played with my son,” James said last year. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
Another USC player, Vincent Iwuchukwu, suffered a cardiac arrest last July. He went on to play in 14 games for the Trojans last season. The team is due to leave for a pre-season tour of Greece and Croatia next week.
A 2016 study cited by the Los Angeles Times found that NCAA athletes run a 1-in-53,703 risk of sudden cardiac death, but those odds were shortened to 1 in 21,491 for Black athletes and 1 in 8,978 for men’s basketball players who are Black.
