Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick confirmed that his family lost their home to the raging Pacific Palisades fire this week.
Redick became emotional as he spoke for the first time Friday about the impact of the fire after a practice with the Lakers, whose scheduled game against San Antonio on Saturday was postponed until late Friday. The Los Angeles Clippers’ home game against Charlotte on Saturday was also postponed, with the Lakers and Clippers scheduled to play on Monday and Wednesday.
“I’m not sure I’ve cried or lamented like that in several years,” Redick said.
Redick said the rented house burned down Tuesday while the Lakers were on the road in Dallas. Redick’s wife, Chelsea, and their two sons were safely away from the area, but Redick drove to Pacific Palisades on Wednesday to see the effects of the fire.
“I wasn’t prepared for what I saw,” Redick said. “It’s complete devastation and destruction. I had to take a different route home, but I walked around most of the village and everything was gone. I don’t think you can ever prepare for something like this. Our house is gone.”
Redick became emotional at times as he pondered the fate of the district that has included his family since Redick became the Lakers’ head coach last summer. The recreation center where Redick spent time with his sons and prepared to coach them in the basketball league is completely gone, along with almost everything else.
The Redick family rented a house in Pacific Palisades and decided to settle permanently in Los Angeles.
“Everything we owned that was important to us in almost 20 years together and 10 years of parenting was in this house,” Redick said. “There are some things that cannot be replaced and will never be replaced. … Material things are anything. My family and I have been reflecting on our own individual side of losing our home, and I don’t want to wish that on anyone. It’s a terrible feeling to lose your home.”
The Lakers’ Thursday home game against Charlotte has been postponed, as has Wednesday’s home game at the same downtown stadium between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary of the National Hockey League.
The National Football League has already moved the Los Angeles Rams’ wild-card playoff game against Minnesota to Glendale, Arizona, making the decision four full days before Monday night’s contest.
