Bronny James, a college basketball player, suffered a cardiac arrest on July 24. He is just 18 years old.
This raises serious concerns about an athlete’s health conditions during grueling games. A player’s health is their most valuable asset apart from their skills and persistence. But what happens when this asset becomes an obstacle to their career? How should athletes ensure their form is always maintained before any game? Or is there a hovering danger over young sportsmen?
But the most critical question is whether Bronny James will continue to play and get drafted into the NBA. This resolution will depend on his recovery and consistency in his vitals post-rehabilitation.
As per past incidents, athletes have recovered from cardiac abnormalities and continued to play sports. In contrast, some athletes were strictly warned against any strenuous activities after they suffered from cardiac arrest. It differs from person to person, but at the same time also depends on the root cause.
What exactly happened to Bronny James? Let us decode the athlete’s health concern.
Did Bronny James Suffer a Cardiac Arrest?
Bronny James, son of the legendary GOAT NBA player Lebron James, played a practice game at the University of California on Monday morning.
Bronny, who just turned 18, is the eldest of LeBron Jame’s children. Following his Lakers all-star father’s footsteps, Bronny pursued basketball from a very young age. He proved himself an MVP during his final year of high school at Sierra Canyon and was eventually deemed a four-star recruit.
He was offered admission into several prominent colleges, including Oregon and Ohio State. But he chose USC and would be entering his freshman year this fall.
While practicing for the upcoming match, Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest and was immediately taken to the hospital. LeBron James’s representative issued a statement on the young athlete’s health scare–
“Yesterday, while practicing, Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest. The medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU.
“We ask for respect 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 staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes.”
Bronny seems to be out of critical condition and discharged from the ICU but is still recuperating under medical care.
In May this year, the USC men’s basketball representative announced that the team is scheduled for a 10-day exhibition trip to Croatia and Greece, starting August 5. However, there are no latest updates as to whether Bronny will be a part of this trip.
Can You Play in NBA After Cardiac Arrest?
What Is Cardiac Arrest?
A sudden cardiac arrest occurs when an irregular heart rhythm causes an instant loss of all heart activity. First, the person stops breathing; then, they lose consciousness.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is used immediately, which induces shock to the heart and includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as emergency treatment. After the patient suffers from cardiac arrest, the following actions must be very prompt for them to survive.
Difference Between Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack
The root cause of a heart attack is a blockage that restricts the blood flow to that part of the heart.
Whereas sudden cardiac arrest happens because of irregularity in the heartbeat. A heart attack can lead to cardiac arrest as the attack affects the heart’s electrical activity.
In the US, approximately 1 million heart attacks occur yearly, of which 14% are fatal. Meanwhile, almost 90% of the estimated 356000 cardiac arrests were fatal.
The major issue with a sudden cardiac arrest is that there are no prior indications, while the symptoms can be mistaken for a heart attack, such as– chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
Now, there are two sides to the spectrum– either the player is advised to quit the sport altogether because of further risks, or the player can improve his condition with a consistent rehabilitation process and gradually start playing again.
The answer to the question – can you play in NBA after a cardiac arrest is it all depends on the individual, their medical history, external factors, and potential risks. Constant medical supervision is required for the player to be integrated back into the sport.
Did Bronny James Have Heart Problems? What Caused Bronny to Go Into Cardiac Arrest?
There are no confirmed reports that Bronny James was suffering from any heart-related medical conditions prior to this incident. Also, no official statements are released on the severity and the cause of this cardiac arrest.
The only information confirmed is that James was practicing for the game when he lost consciousness. So there is a high possibility that an overworked body and fatigue could have led to sudden cardiac arrest.
But the internet is another tangent with conspiracy theories for Bronny’s condition. Some anti-vax netizens believe that young athletes, especially men, are suffering dire side effects from the covid 19 vaccine.
However, one of the major repercussions of the covid 19 virus is acute myocarditis– inflammation of the myocardium, typically diagnosed in young patients. This occurs after the patient suffers from a viral infection that damages the heart muscle.
Shaquille O’Neal’s son Shareef O’Neal went under the knife for critical heart surgery in 2018. He took a year off from college basketball to fully recuperate and train for a comeback.
Bronny James is a young athlete; it’s highly likely that he will make a comeback, although it will require time, patience, and consistent efforts.
What are your thoughts on Bronny’s sudden cardiac arrest? Do you think he would be drafted in the NBA?
Do you believe in the internet’s conspiracy theory? Let us know in the comments section below.
