JJ Redick: ‘I haven’t cried or cried like that in several years,’ Lakers coach says after losing home in Palisades fire

CNN
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Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick lamented the loss of “things you can’t replace” as he described the pain of his rental home burning down in the Pacific Palisades Run.

Speaking to reporters Friday after the Lakers’ practice, an emotional Redick said he witnessed the “utter devastation and destruction” in his community when he returned home after the fire.

“I walked through most of the village and it’s all gone and I don’t think you can ever prepare for something like that,” Redick said. “Our home is gone.

“We rented for a year to figure out where we wanted to be long-term. Everything we owned and that was meaningful to us – almost 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenthood – was in this house. There are certain things that you can’t replace, that will never be replaced.”

He added: “It’s a terrible feeling to lose your home. I think what’s happened in the last 72 hours since I’ve been up there and a number of people who had homes in the Palisades and are also staying at the hotel really gives you a sense of the communal devastation. When I got back to the hotel, my wife and I were of course emotional. I’m not sure I’ve ever cried or cried like that in the last few years.”

Redick was a basketball analyst at ESPN before becoming a head coach and moving to the Los Angeles area. During his 15-year playing career, he spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.

“The Palisades community has really been so good to us,” Redick said, fighting back tears. “I think that’s the part we’re really struggling with, which is the loss of community. And I recognize that people make a community, and we will rebuild it, and we want to help lead the way. But all the churches, the schools, the library, everything is gone.”

After speaking with reporters, Redick was comforted by Lakers guard Austin Reaves on the team’s practice court.

Los Angeles was scheduled to return to the court Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena, but the game was postponed.

“We care about the Los Angeles community,” the team said in a statement. “The Lakers look forward to getting back on the court soon, honoring LA’s first responders and honoring the heartache our beloved community has endured.”

The Clippers were scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets at the Intuit Dome on Saturday, but that game was also postponed.

More than 100,000 residents remain in need of evacuation as fires continue to rage in LA County and firefighters struggle to contain them. Officials have confirmed at least 11 deaths but say it is not yet safe to determine the true total.

Redick wasn’t the only NBA coach affected by the fires. On Thursday, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said his childhood home in Pacific Palisades, where his mother still lived, was destroyed.

“This is my hometown and all my friends that come from there, pretty much all of them have lost their home, their family home, their childhood home,” Kerr told reporters.

“Our whole high school is gone. The town looks like it was just completely wiped out… It’s hard to imagine how Pacific Palisades will be rebuilt and become a thriving community again. It’s just shocking.”