NEW DELHI: Bronny James, the eldest son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is in stable condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a college basketball practice on Tuesday, according to the James family.
Bronny, 18, collapsed on the floor on Monday in Los Angeles while training with his University of Southern California teammates.
"Yesterday while practising Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest," a spokesperson for the James family said in a statement to AFP.
"Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU (intensive care).
"We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update the 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."
According to the celebrity news website TMZ.com, James was unconscious before being brought to the hospital following the cardiac incident.
According to the American Heart Association, only about one out of every ten people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops without warning.
James' cardiac arrest occurred just over a year after another USC basketball player, Vince Iwuchukwu, collapsed during an informal practice due to heart failure. Iwuchukwu afterwards recovered completely.
Meanwhile, NFL player Damar Hamlin, who experienced a heart attack while playing for the Buffalo Bills in January in an incident that rocked the sports world, offered words of encouragement to the James family.
"Prayers to Bronny & the James family as well," Hamlin wrote on Twitter.
"Here for you guys just like you have been for me my entire process," added the 25-year-old, who subsequently made a full recovery and has since been cleared to resume his NFL career.
Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson also offered support. "We are praying and hoping he makes a full and speedy recovery," Johnson wrote on Twitter.
Bronny committed to the USC Trojans in May after becoming one of the top high school basketball prospects in the country.
He finished his senior year at Los Angeles' prestigious Sierra Canyon School with 15 points and five 3-pointers in an all-star game among top college prospects.
His legendary father, the NBA's all-time greatest scorer, four-time NBA champion, and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, has long expressed a desire to extend his career so that he can play in the league alongside his son.
"I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny...that would be ideal for sure," James told ESPN in an interview in January.
After one season for the Trojans, who are anticipated to have a strong team next season, teen star James might be eligible for the NBA Draft.
Some analysts have already pegged James as a top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
James will turn 20 in October 2024, the same month as the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. In December 2024, his father will turn 40.
(With inputs from AFP)
