LeBron James Breaks Silence on 18-Year-Old Son’s Cardiac Arrest

LeBron James (L), poses with his son Bronny after Sierra Canyon beat Akron St. Vincent - St. Mary in a high school basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 14, 2019. Jay LaPrete/AP Photo

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James broke his silence on his 18-year-old son’s sudden cardiac arrest and hospitalization earlier this week.

His son, Bronny, suffered the medical incident while he was practicing for the USC basketball team earlier this week. His family issued a statement Monday about Mr. James’ medical condition, saying at the time that he was taken to the intensive care unit before being declared in stable condition and is no longer in the ICU.

“I want to thank the countless people sending my family love and prayers,” Mr. James wrote on Twitter on Thursday, his first public comments since his son was hospitalized. “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!”

Cardiac arrest is when there is a sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm. It’s also referred to as sudden cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac death, according to the Mayo Clinic and other health websites, as the condition can quickly lead to death if it is not treated immediately.

Separately, a heart attack occurs when blood flow to a specific part of the heart is blocked and that has the potential to change the heart’s activity that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest, says the Mayo Clinic.

In his Twitter post, Mr. James did not make any mention about what may have caused his son’s cardiac arrest. There has been rampant speculation on social media, including a post from Twitter owner Elon Musk, that the cardiac incident was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.

Elon Musk Responds

Hours after Mr. Bronny James’ cardiac arrest, Mr. Musk wrote: “We cannot ascribe everything to the vaccine, but, by the same token, we cannot ascribe nothing. Myocarditis is a known side-effect. The only question is whether it is rare or common.”

At the same time, a number of corporate media outlets interviewed what they described as medical experts to say that the younger James’ health scare was not caused by the COVID-19 vaccine, while labeling those who say otherwise as conspiracy theorists. A number of such articles also criticized Mr. Musk, who previously said he received the COVID-19 shot, for his Twitter post and alleged he is elevating so-called misinformation about the shot.

Earlier this week, CNN interviewed its own medical analyst, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who asserted that sudden cardiac arrest events involving young athletes are “more common than people realize.”

Meanwhile, top cardiologist and COVID-19 vaccine skeptic Dr. Peter McCullough issued a response on social media and suggested that there is a connection.

Electric car maker Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the 6th edition of the "Choose France" Summit at the Chateau de Versailles, outside Paris on May 15, 2023. Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

“We are seeing a wide range of vaccine associated collapses among on screen reporters, athletes, and many others that can be caused by POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) which has a benign prognosis all the way to myocarditis and ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation which can be fatal,” Dr. McCullough wrote on his Substack page.

He added: “Details regarding the COVID-19 vaccine taken, when the doses were administered, the initial cardiac rhythm at the time of collapse followed by cardiac testing including ECG, blood tests, and MRI are all needed to ascertain the prognosis.”

The battle over information about vaccines circulating via social media has been the subject of court cases. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court paused a separate court’s order that had limited Biden administration officials from contacting social media firms about online posts and content.

Republicans have said that federal officials have attempted to censor talk about the vaccine and other subjects, colluding with social media and Big Tech companies to take down posts or ban users. During the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration has attempted to publicly push back on what it described as misinformation about the virus and vaccines.

According to gossip entertainment website TMZ, the 6-foot-3 guard was unconscious before he was rushed to the hospital via an ambulance. The outlet also allegedly obtained the 911 call for Mr. Bronny James, while also it cited unnamed sources who claimed that the call was a Code 3 emergency in which the responding ambulance had sirens and lights activated.

The younger James confirmed he is committed to playing for the USC Trojans starting next season. He is also forecast to be drafted into the NBA within the coming years.

Mr. James, who turns 19 this October, is eligible for the NBA draft in 2024. He has not publicly commented on the cardiac arrest episode.

Earlier this year, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest episode while playing a “Monday Night Football” game before he was hospitalized in intensive care for several days.

“Prayers to Bronny & The James family as well ... here for you guys just like you have been for me my entire process,” Mr. Hamlin wrote.