Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed that his family lost their home in the devastating wildfires that broke out in the Pacific Palisades earlier this week.
Redick became emotional Friday when he spoke for the first time about the effects of the fire after Lakers practice. The Lakers are currently scheduled to return to action Saturday against San Antonio.
“I’m not sure [that] I haven’t cried so much in the last few years,” Reddick said.
Reddick said the house he was renting while the Lakers were on a road trip to Dallas burned down on Tuesday. Reddick’s wife, Chelsea, and their two sons were safely removed from the neighborhood, but Reddick drove into Pacific Palisades on Wednesday to see the effects of the fire.
“I wasn’t prepared for what I saw,” Reddick said. “Complete devastation and destruction. I had to take a different road to get to my house, but I went through a large part of the village, and everything was gone. Be prepared for something like that. I don’t think it’s ever possible. Our home is gone.”
Redick became emotional at times as he reflected on the fate of the community that has embraced his family since becoming the Lakers’ head coach last summer. The recreation center where Reddick spent time with his sons and prepared to coach in a basketball league is gone forever, along with nearly everything else.
The Reddick family rented a house in the Pacific Palisades while they decided where in Los Angeles to live permanently.
“Everything we owned, everything that was important to us as a couple for about 20 years together and 10 years raising our children, was in that house,” Reddick said. “There [are] Something that cannot be replaced, something that can never be replaced. …Anything material. My family and I were dealing with our own aspects, the personal aspects of losing our home, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Losing your home feels terrible. ”
Redick has returned to work with the Lakers, but is not 100% sure he will be able to play as scheduled on Saturday night.
The Lakers’ home game against Charlotte on Thursday has been postponed, as has Wednesday’s home game between the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and Calgary at the same downtown arena.
The Lakers were scheduled to open a five-game homestand with a visit from the Hornets while the Kings were out of town on a long road trip. They host San Antonio on Saturday and Monday, followed by visits from Miami on Wednesday and Brooklyn on Jan. 17.
Both Redick and Lakers guard Austin Reaves said the team wants to play because of the opportunity to provide diversion and fun to a weary city.
“It’s sad. This is my fourth year here, and since the first day I’ve been here, L.A. has shown me nothing but love,” Reeves said. “A few months ago, I was telling people around me that I see myself living here forever after basketball and that I live here because it’s so much fun. It’s just sad to see the video. People have to leave their homes. It’s a sad time, but I think we’ll get through this because LA is such a great place.”
The NFL has already moved the Los Angeles Rams’ wild-card playoff game against Minnesota to Glendale, Ariz., making the decision a full four days before Monday night’s game.
The LA Clippers will also be in their homestand in Inglewood, just a short walk from the Rams’ SoFi Stadium. They will host the Hornets on Saturday, Miami on Monday and Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Associated Press reported.
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