Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick He lamented the lack of “issues you’ll be able to’t change” as he described the ache of seeing his rental home burn down within the Pacific Palisades wildfire.
Talking to reporters Friday after Lakers observe, an emotional Redick mentioned he witnessed “full devastation and destruction” in his area people when he returned dwelling following the ‘hearth.
“I have been via many of the village and all the pieces’s gone, and I do not assume you’ll be able to ever put together for one thing like that,” Redick mentioned. “Our home is gone.
“We had been renting for the yr to attempt to determine the place we needed to be long run. The whole lot we owned that had any significance to us, nearly 20 years of married life and 10 years of parenthood, was on this home. There are some issues that can not be changed, that by no means will probably be.
He added: “It’s a horrible feeling to lose your private home. I feel what’s occurred during the last 72 hours, with me being up there and having plenty of folks with properties within the Palisades additionally staying on the lodge, actually offers you an concept of group destruction. I bought again to the lodge and naturally my spouse and I are emotional. I am undecided I’ve cried or screamed like that in a few years.
Redick was a basketball analyst for ESPN earlier than changing into a head coach and shifting to the Los Angeles space. Throughout his 15-year taking part in profession, he spent 4 seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.
“The Palisades group has actually been so sort to us,” Redick mentioned, holding again tears. “I feel that’s what we’re actually having bother with is simply the lack of group. And I acknowledge that folks make up the group, and we’ll rebuild it, and we wish to contribute to that. However all of the church buildings, the faculties, the libraries, all the pieces has disappeared. »
After talking with reporters, Redick was comforted by Lakers guard Austin Reaves on the crew’s observe courtroom.
Redick and Reaves kiss throughout a Lakers observe. -Damian Dovarganes/AP
Los Angeles was scheduled to return to the sphere Saturday evening in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Enviornment however the recreation was postponed.
“The Los Angeles group is in our hearts,” the crew mentioned in a press release. “The Lakers sit up for returning to the courtroom quickly, to honor Los Angeles’ first responders and acknowledge the heartbreak endured by our beloved group.”
The Clippers had been scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets on the Intuit Dome on Saturday, however that recreation was additionally postponed.
Greater than 100,000 residents stay beneath evacuation orders as fires proceed to ravage Los Angeles County and hearth departments battle to comprise them. The officers have confirmed no less than 11 deaths however say it is it’s not but sure to evaluate the true whole.
Redick wasn’t the one NBA coach to be affected by the fires. On Thursday, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr mentioned his childhood dwelling in Pacific Palisades, the place his mom nonetheless lived, was destroyed.
“That is my hometown, and all my pals who’re from there have nearly all misplaced their properties, their household properties, their childhood properties,” Kerr informed reporters.
“Our complete highschool is gone. The city seems to have been utterly worn out… It is exhausting to think about how Pacific Palisades rebuilds itself and turns into a thriving group once more. It is merely surprising.
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