Lebron James’ 18-year-old son, Bronny James, has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, but his family is confident he will return to the basketball court soon.
The news comes exactly one month after the younger James, an incoming freshman at USC, suffered a cardiac arrest during team practice.
The James family has since been consulting with doctors, and released a statement Friday with what they felt to be a promising update, reports TMZ.
“It is an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect, which can and will be treated,” the statement said.
“We are very confident in Bronny’s full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future,” the family added. “We will continue to provide updates to media and respectfully reiterate the family’s request for privacy.”
James was evaluated at the Mayo Clinic and other hospitals for three weeks following the incident.
In recent days, he has been seen attending a Dodgers game in Los Angeles and walking out, alongside his dad, at the beginning of one of rapper Drake’s concerts.
Bronny, whose full name is LeBron James Jr., was projected to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and committed to USC back in May as a four-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles.
His father — the NBA’s all-time leading scorer — has previously said one of his goals is to play in the NBA with his son.
Lebron Sr. claimed that money would not be a factor, and that after he shares a season with his son, he would retire.
