WARM CONSOLE : ‘I’ve not wept or wailed like that in several years,’ says Lakers coach JJ Redick after losing his home in the Palisades fire.
Speaking to reporters on Friday following the Lakers’ practice, an emotional Redick said that he witnessed “complete devastation and destruction” in his local community when he returned home in the aftermath of the fire.
“I went through most of the village and it’s all gone, and I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that,” Redick said. “Our home is gone.We were renting for the year to try to figure out where we wanted to be long-term. Everything we owned that was of any importance to us, almost 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenting, was in that house. There’s certain things that you can’t replace, that will never be replaced.”
He added: “It’s an awful feeling to lose your home. I think what has happened over the last 72 hours from me being up there and from having a number of people that had homes in the Palisades that are also staying at the hotel, you really get a sense of just the communal destruction. I got back to the hotel, and of course my wife and I are emotional. I’m not sure I’ve wept or wailed like that in several years.”
Redick was a basketball analyst for ESPN prior to 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 just been so good to us,” Redick said while fighting back tears. “I think that’s the part for us that we’re really struggling with, is just the loss of community. And I recognize that people make up community, and we’re going to rebuild, and we want to help lead on that. But all the churches, the schools, the library, it’s all gone.”
After speaking with reporters, Redick was comforted by Lakers guard Austin Reaves on the team’s practice court.Los Angeles were scheduled to return to the court on Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs at Crypto.com Arena but the game has been postponed.
“The Los Angeles community is on our hearts,” the teamLakers look forward to getting back on the court soon, honoring LA’s first responders and recognizing the heartbreak endured across our beloved community.”
The Clippers were set to host the Charlotte Hornets at the Intuit Dome on Saturday but that game has also been postponed.
More than 100,000 residents remain under evacuation orders as fires continue to sweep across LA County and fire departments battle to contain them. Officials have
