After Bronny James’ incident, tragic story of Celtics player’s demise from cardiac arrest resurfaces on Reddit
LeBron James' son Bronny James' recent cardiac arrest brought back memories of Reggie Lewis' unfortunate death 30 years ago. Lewis suffered a cardiac arrest during practice at Brandeis University in Waltham.
Two officers tried mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but could not save the Celtics star. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was attributed as the cause of Lewis' death. It's a structural heart defect and is a common cause of death among young athletes.
The Reddit community remembered Lewis on his death anniversary with a throwback video of the tribute the Celtics paid him by retiring his No. 35 jersey.
Reggie Lewis was 27 years old when he passed. The Celtics added him to bolster the depth around their aging core of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish with the 22nd overall selection in the 1987 draft. Lewis took time to find his feet in the league but managed an All-Star selection.
Lewis hit his peak after averaging a career-high 20.8 points in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. His best came during the 1992 playoffs. The 6'7" forward averaged 28.0 ppg and 4.8 rpg, shooting 52.8% across 10 games.
Lewis also collapsed on the court in his final NBA game, during Game 1 of the Celtics' 1993 NBA Playoffs first-round series against the Charlotte Hornets. Lewis was diagnosed with focal cardiomyopathy, a disease that can cause irregular heartbeat and heart failure.
Lewis was told his condition was career-ending. He sought a second opinion from Dr. Gilbert Mudge, who diagnosed the Celtics star with a neurocardiogenic syncope. Despite Dr. Mudge not clearing Lewis to resume practice, the latter began working out for the following season. It, unfortunately, led to his death.
Reggie Lewis was among the only two players to have their jersey retired by the Celtics, despite his lack of success with the franchise.
Bronny James is stable but his condition hasn't been disclosed
The James family has requested privacy regarding Bronny James' situation. One of their spokespeople revealed Bronny is stable following a cardiac arrest on Monday. However, information regarding his condition and the cause of the cardiac arrest hasn't been disclosed.
The USC medical staff gave timely treatment to Bronny James on campus and rushed him to the hospital for further evaluation. Bronny's recovery period seems unclear, with little to no information regarding his situation.
Also read: Exclusive: Bronny James 'will likely be back to normal very soon', top USA cardiologists confirm following USC freshman's cardiac arrest