It was a wild wild time to be in Los Angeles. But JJ Redick has proved he is made of steel. After being devastated with losing his LA home to the wildfires, the Los Angeles Lakers head coach showed his stronger side.
The recent wildfires sweeping through Southern California turned the Lakers’ schedule upside down, forcing them to postpone their last couple of games. However, Redick saw an unexpected silver lining in this tough situation. In a press conference before their matchup against the San Antonio Spurs, he shared how he took the chance to challenge his players to really focus during practice.
“I just asked them everyday, I said, we all have other stuff going on. Just give me your best today. And they responded. They gave me their best. We had three great days of work, and hopefully there’s a carryover to tonight’s game,” Redick said.
JJ Redick says that he felt like the break in the schedule caused by the wildfires the ended up being the best few days the Lakers shared as a team since training camp. “I told them, ‘We all have other stuff going on, just give me your best today.’ They responded”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 14, 2025
For Redick, the week was particularly heavy as his own family lost their home to the fires. Amid the devastation, he felt a profound sense of gratitude for the support pouring in from the Lakers community and the larger Los Angeles area. Reflecting on the experience, he noted that events like this can push teams apart or bring them together. Fortunately for the Lakers, it deepened their bond.
JJ Redick Got A Moment To Cherish Amid Adversity
As Redick and his family are going through a time of distress, his kids finally get a moment to smile. After a recent game, NBA stars Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul surprised the kids with signed game-worn jerseys.
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The memorable moment came after the Redick family faced a devastating loss due to a fire that destroyed their Pacific Palisades home. For J.J., the fire wasn’t just about the physical loss. It wiped out nearly 20 years of memories and keepsakes. It included a cherished collection of basketball memorabilia that meant the world to his two boys.
CP3 & Wemby give their game-worn jerseys to JJ Redick's two sons 🥹
— NBA (@NBA) January 14, 2025
What a SPECIAL moment 🤍 pic.twitter.com/RlgmgByfRB
Wembanyama, who was touched by the story, wanted to do something special for the boys, recognizing how important their love for basketball is. He mentioned that if his little efforts could light up the kids’ days, he’ll be more than happy to do it. Meanwhile, the Lakers and other teams in Los Angeles have stepped up in unity. Together they organized donation drives and contributing over $8 million to help those affected by the wildfires.
