Los Angeles was in the midst of chaos, but JJ Redick has displayed remarkable resilience. Following the heartbreaking loss of his LA residence to wildfires, the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers demonstrated his strength.
The recent wildfires that have ravaged Southern California disrupted the Lakers’ schedule, resulting in the postponement of their last few games. Nevertheless, Redick managed to discover an unexpected benefit from this challenging scenario. During a press conference ahead of the game against the San Antonio Spurs, he revealed how he took this opportunity to urge his players to maintain their 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 shared.
JJ Redick says that he felt like the break in the schedule caused by the wildfires 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 emotionally taxing as he experienced the loss of his family home due to the fires. Despite the destruction, he expressed deep appreciation for the support he received from the Lakers community and the greater Los Angeles region. He noted that incidents like this could either tear a team apart or bring them closer together. Thankfully for the Lakers, this experience strengthened their unity.
JJ Redick Got A Moment To Cherish Amid Adversity
While Redick and his family are navigating this difficult period, there was a moment of joy for his children. Following a recent game, NBA stars Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul surprised his kids with signed game-worn jerseys.
This touching moment occurred after the Redick family experienced a significant loss due to the fire that destroyed their Pacific Palisades home. For J.J., this tragedy represented not only a physical loss but the destruction of nearly two decades of memories and keepsakes, including a treasured collection of basketball memorabilia that held special meaning for his two sons.
CP3 & Wemby give their game-worn jerseys to JJ Redick’s two sons 🥹
What a SPECIAL moment 🤍 pic.twitter.com/RlgmgByfRB
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Wembanyama, moved by the situation, wanted to do something memorable for the boys, acknowledging the significance of their passion for basketball. He noted that if his small gestures could brighten the children’s days, he would gladly do so. Meanwhile, the Lakers and other Los Angeles teams have come together in solidarity by organizing donation drives, contributing over $8 million to assist those impacted by the wildfires.
Image Source: JJ Redick @ Instagram
