By the time JJ Reddick pulled up to his family’s former home in Pacific Palisades, the fire had already made its unforgiving choice.
Where memories lived, laughter echoed, and lives unfolded, there stood a blackened skeleton of timber and ash. It’s more than just a home, it’s been the backdrop for Redick’s family story since he took over as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers last year. It’s gone now.
“Everything we owned, everything that was important to us as a couple for about 20 years together and 10 years raising children, was in that house,” he said. His voice cracked as he remembered his priceless treasure. It’s a charcoal pencil drawing by my son when he was in Brooklyn, a small hand sketch of a lighthouse proudly framed.
“You can never replace something like that,” Reddick whispered.
California wildfires weaken even the strongest among us with their ferocious unpredictability. Resilience is no stranger to Reddick. His life is defined by adapting, adjusting and persevering. But no one could prepare for the sight of complete devastation.
The fire didn’t wait until J.J. returned from the Lakers’ road trip. As flames crept toward the Palisades, his wife, Chelsea, sprang into action. She evacuated her children and nanny, took shelter in a hotel, and survived the chaos that came with losing ground under her feet.
Reddick arrived in Los Angeles early Wednesday morning, too late to fight the blaze, but just in time to face the aftermath. After only a few hours of restless sleep, he decided to witness the wreckage and drove into the center of it.
The answer was simple: nothing.
“I headed to the Palisades. [on Wednesday morning] I just had to see it for myself,” Redick told reporters from the Lakers’ practice facility Friday morning, his voice shaking under the weight of the loss. “I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. It’s complete devastation and destruction… I don’t think you can prepare for something like that, everything lost. Our home It’s gone.”
The Palisades was more than just an address. For Reddix, it became a community. The words rolled off JJ’s tongue with respect and sadness.
“We’re moving here and the Palisades community has been so good to us, and that’s the part we’re really suffering from, the loss of community,” Reddick said with tears in her eyes. He spoke while smiling. “The church, the school, the library…the rec center, it’s all gone.”
As Reddick said, churches, schools, libraries, everything is gone. Neighbors, colleagues, and friends are evacuating. The fires did not discriminate, consuming lives and landscapes alike.
Reddick wasn’t alone in his grief. Several Lakers staff members, including chief legal officer Daniel Grigsby, general counsel Josh Green, and videographer Rohan Ali, all lost their homes and family homes. But the Lakers family remains strong and united. Lakers superstar Anthony Davis donated $20,000 to Ali’s GoFundMe page, as did forward Jared Vanderbilt.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr also lost a piece of his past when his childhood home was destroyed.
Still, Reddick found glimmers of determination amidst the devastation.
Mr Reddick’s determination was clear as he addressed the severe impact of the bushfires. Yes, his family will be rebuilt. They had the means, support, and privilege to recover. But for others, the road ahead is rocky, fraught with political hurdles and economic uncertainty.
“I don’t want people to pity me and my family. We’ll be fine,” he said. “There are people who are not okay because of insurance issues or financial hardship. We’re going to do everything we can to help those who are depressed because of this.”
It was a promise forged in the embers of loss, a determination to stand up not just for his own family but for the community that embraced him in ways he never expected.
As of Friday, the Palisades Fire had burned more than 20,000 acres, displaced thousands of people and claimed lives. Containment efforts remain at a precarious 8% as strong winds threaten to spread the fire further. For Reddick and his family, the reality of rebuilding is still sinking in.
Reddick, sitting in her hotel room with Chelsea that night, admitted that it was the first time in a while that she cried. “I don’t think I’ve cried or cried this much in years,” he said. “Think not only of what we have lost, but what this means to so many families like ours.”
The road ahead will be long and uncertain. But just as JJ Redick leads the Lakers through a trying season, he will also lead his family and community through the ashes of heartbreak. Because that’s what you do when the world burns out around you. You find a way to build something new, something lasting, something important.
And maybe, just maybe, through the fire, we will discover what the word “home” really, truly means.
For those who would like to donate, we are still accepting donations to several organizations working on the front lines providing aid and relief to families and first responders. As the city struggles to recover from the most devastating wildfire season in history, every penny counts.
Here’s how you can help those affected by wildfires.
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