LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Bronny James, the 19-year-old son of National Basketball Association superstar LeBron James, has been given medical approval to return to college basketball activities four months after suffering cardiac arrest during practice.
The James family announced Thursday that Bronny James, who was found to have a congenital heart defect, plans to return to workouts next week with the University of Southern California.
“Bronny James is now cleared by his doctors for a full return to basketball,” the James family said in a statement.
“Bronny will have a final evaluation with USC staff this week, resume practice next week, and return to games soon after.”
“The James family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible medical team, the entire USC community, and especially the countless friends, family, and fans for their love and support. Fight On!”
James, a prized high school prospect carefully watched due to his famous father, selected USC last May.
But in a July workout, Bronny James collapsed and was hospitalized for three days before the heart defect diagnosis was revealed in August.
The Trojans are off to a 5-2 start in the 2023-24 season and could possibly make his USC debut as early as 10 December against Long Beach State.
Meanwhile, Maverick Carter, the manager and business partner of James, told federal investigators in 2021 he had bet on NBA games through an illegal bookmaker, The Washington Post reported.
The newspaper, citing federal law enforcement documents viewed by the Post, reported that Carter told agents he “could not remember placing any bets on the Lakers.”
Carter’s admission came in a November 2021 interview with agents investigating bookie Wayne Nix, who has since pleaded guilty to charges that stemmed from his role running an off-shore sports betting ring.
A spokesman for Carter and James confirmed to the Post that the interview took place.
“In 2021 and before 38 states and the District of Columbia legalized sports betting, Maverick Carter was interviewed a single time by federal law enforcement regarding their investigation into Wayne Nix,” the spokesman, Adam Mendelsohn, said in a statement to the newspaper.
“Mr. Carter was not the target of the investigation, cooperated, was never charged, and never contacted again on the matter.”
The Post said the report it reviewed indicated that Carter said he placed approximately 20 bets on football and basketball games over the course of a year, with each bet ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
He denied placing bets for other people and Mendelsohn told the Post that Carter’s wagering “has nothing to do with” James.
