Bronny James Cardiac Arrest Mystery Solved But Will He Ever Play Basketball Again?
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The mystery surrounding Bronny James's collapse during a USC Trojans men's basketball practice has been solved. After extensive testing, doctors attributed the cardiac arrest to a congenital heart defect on Friday.
"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' sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) has been identified," a James family spokesperson said.
"It is an anatomically and functionally significant Congenital Heart Defect which can and will be treated."
Good News For Bronny
That is good news for the 18-year-old who aspires to play basketball on the highest levels, just like his famous father. Bronny's heart stopped on July 24 during a workout on USC's campus in L.A., and a flurry of speculations from complications from the COVID-19 vaccine to unsubstantiated recreational drug usage swirled.
The young James spent the weeks after the incident getting evaluated at the Mayo Clinic and other medical institutions to figure out what the issue was and if it could be fixed.
Bronny's close friend, Shareef O'Neal, the son of Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, missed the 2018-19 season to undergo heart surgery. It was also his first year at UCLA.
“Freshman Shareef O’Neal will be sidelined for the 2018-19 season (medical)," UCLA said in a statement back in 2018. "He will remain enrolled in class and on the men’s basketball team during this redshirt year. The UCLA men’s basketball program completely supports Shareef and his family as he gets this issue resolved.”
O'Neal eventually went on to play professionally. After playing for the Lakers in Summer League, he signed a six-figure contract with the NBA G League Ignite in 2022. That leaves good news for Bronny.
Bronny is doing much better and has been spotted around Los Angeles, most recently attending a Dodgers game and a Drake concert with his dad. The family is optimistic he can return to the court.
"We are very confident in Bronny's full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future. We will continue to provide updates to media and respectfully reiterate the family's request for privacy."