Fire’s Toll: LA Lakers Coach JJ Redick Loses Home, Shares Struggles

JJ Redick, head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, recently faced a personal tragedy. His rental home in the Pacific Palisades was destroyed by a wildfire. Speaking with reporters after practice, Redick expressed his grief over the loss of possessions he couldn't replace. He and his wife had been renting the house while deciding where to settle long-term. The coach mentioned that they lost items of great importance, including memories from their 20-year relationship and 10 years of parenting. Redick admitted that witnessing the devastation was overwhelming. He felt a deep connection to the community, which made the loss even harder to bear. The Palisades area had been his home during his time playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. He worried about the loss of community spaces like churches, schools, and the local library. Redick found comfort in the support of his teammates, specifically Austin Reaves, who embraced him during practice. The Lakers were scheduled to play against the San Antonio Spurs, but the game was postponed due to the fires. The team expressed their sympathies for the Los Angeles community in a statement. They planned to honor first responders and acknowledge the community's hardships once they returned to the court. Similarly, the Clippers' game against the Charlotte Hornets was also postponed. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr also suffered losses. His childhood home, where his mother still lived, was destroyed. Kerr expressed disbelief at the extent of the damage and the challenge of rebuilding the community. More than 100, 000 residents remain evacuated as firefighters work to contain the blazes. Officials confirmed at least 11 deaths, but the full extent of the damage is still unknown.