“I’m not sure I’ve wept or wailed like that in several years,” Redick said.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared emotional news that his family lost its home in the Pacific Palisades wildfire this week. A couple of days back, the rookie coach acknowledged that his family was evacuated from their house which is located in South California, the area where the fire started.
The Lakers coach was heartbroken after confirming the news. Redick spoke about the wildfire for the first time after practice with the Lakers. He wanted to return to the court but it’s unlikely to happen this week as the NBA postponed their Saturday’s game against the Spurs. The Clippers’ home game against the Hornets is also postponed.
“I’m not sure I’ve wept or wailed like that in several years. I was not prepared for what I saw,” Redick said. “It’s complete devastation and destruction. I had to go a different way to the house, but I went through most of the village, and it’s all gone. I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that. Our home is gone.”
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Redick’s rented house was burned down on Tuesday when the Lakers were in Texax for the NBA game against Dallas. His wife and two sons have been evacuated from the house. The 40-year-old coach also visited the Pacific Palisades area on Wednesday to see the fire’s impact and it was an emotional moment for him.
“Everything that we owned that was of any importance to us in almost 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenting was in that house,” Redick said.
“There’s certain things that you can’t replace, that will never be replaced. … The material stuff is whatever. My family and I were processing the self side, the individual side, of losing your home, and you don’t ever want to wish that on anybody. It’s an awful feeling to lose your home.”
Redick got emotional while sharing the memories from the house which was burned down in the fire. He became the coach for the first time in the NBA last summer. This is the place where he used to spend time with his two sons and wife, Chelsea. Redick was living on rent and was planning to shift permanently to Los Angeles.
This wildfire was so tragic that five-time Olympic swimming gold medalist Gary Hall Jr. was unable to return to the house to get his all the medals he won over three Olympics. He was evacuated with his dog and the insulin he uses to treat his diabetes. He also walked way with a painting of his grandfather.
The Pacific Palisades wildfire has caused the biggest damage to Los Angeles. As per reports, at least 11 people died and the fire destroyed around 10,000 homes and other buildings in this area.
Image Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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