Image Source: AP
[Saba Sports News] Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared on Friday that his family lost their home in the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfire earlier this week.
Redick, speaking emotionally for the first time about the tragedy, reflected on the personal and community impact following a Lakers practice.
The fire destroyed Redick’s rented home on Tuesday while the team was in Dallas to face the Mavericks. Fortunately, his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons were safely away from the neighborhood. On Wednesday, Redick visited Pacific Palisades to witness the aftermath.
“I was not prepared for what I saw,” Redick said. “It’s complete devastation and destruction. Our home is gone. I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that.”
Redick grew emotional while discussing the neighborhood, which had welcomed his family since he took over as the Lakers’ head coach last summer. A recreation center where he spent time with his sons and had planned to coach their basketball league was also destroyed.
“Everything we owned that mattered from 20 years as a couple and 10 years as parents was in that house,” Redick shared. “Some things can never be replaced. Losing your home is an awful feeling, something you wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
The Redick family had been renting the home while deciding where to settle permanently in Los Angeles.
The Lakers have also been affected by the ongoing wildfires. Their Thursday home game against Charlotte was postponed, along with an NHL game between the Kings and Flames in the same downtown arena.
While the Kings have left on a road trip, the Lakers are set to begin a homestand, starting with a matchup against San Antonio on Saturday.
Despite the tragedy, Redick and guard Austin Reaves expressed hope that playing could provide a sense of normalcy for the city.
“It’s been sad to see LA go through this,” Reaves said. “I’ve felt nothing but love since I got here, and seeing the devastation is heartbreaking. But I know LA will get through this because it’s such a resilient place.”
Meanwhile, the NFL moved the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against Minnesota to Glendale, Arizona, due to the fires. The Clippers, also set for a homestand in Inglewood, are scheduled to host the Hornets, Heat, and Nets over the coming week.
As the city grapples with the wildfire’s impact, the Lakers hope to bring moments of relief and solidarity to a community in need.