Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick was among the thousands whose home was destroyed in the recent wildfires that ravaged the area. Redick was out of town for a game when he learned of the fires and that his family had evacuated. He returned to Palisades, where he was met with the devastation and destruction caused by the blaze.
Redick’s home was one of those that did not survive the fires, and he described the scene as “complete devastation and destruction.” He had been renting the home for a year, and it held many memories and possessions dear to him and his family.
Redick’s wife and children had evacuated to safety, but the experience was not easy for them. “We were renting for the year to try to figure out where to be long-term, and everything we own that was of importance to us — almost 20 years of being together and 10 years of parenting — was in that house,” he said. “There’s certain things you can’t replace. They’ll never be replaced.”
Redick acknowledged that the material losses were significant, but it was the emotional toll that was harder to bear. “The self side, the individual side of losing your home, you don’t ever want to wish that on anybody. It’s an awful feeling to lose your home,” he said. “I’m not sure I’ve wept or wailed like that in several years.”
