JJ Redick Emotional After Losing Home in California Wildfire

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick has lost his home in the Palisades fire, which has destroyed thousands of homes and ravaged over 20,000 acres.

The NFL, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Chargers have joined forces to donate $5 million to support communities affected by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. The fires have claimed at least 10 lives and destroyed thousands of homes in Southern California. The donation will be split among the NFL's philanthropic arm, the NFL Foundation, and four NFL teams: the Rams, Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, and Houston Texans.

Each of the four teams has pledged $1 million, which will be matched by the NFL Foundation. The recipients of the funds include the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, which benefits first responders from the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, and the American Red Cross, which provides services to those affected by the wildfires. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell expressed his sympathy for the victims and praised the heroism of first responders and residents.

“We are heartbroken over the devastating losses experienced by so many in the Los Angeles area and inspired by the heroism of first responders and residents who have supported their neighbors,” Goodell said. “The NFL family is committed to working with the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams to support their local communities in their time of need.” The NFL has already taken steps to prioritize public safety, relocating the Rams' playoff game against the Vikings from SoFi Stadium to Arizona.

The relocation of the Rams' game is not the only sporting event impacted by the wildfires. The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers' home game against the Charlotte Hornets scheduled for Thursday. As of Friday, the Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers were still waiting to learn if their home games scheduled for Saturday would go ahead as planned, as multiple fires continued to burn in the region. The Texans are set to host the Chargers on Saturday.

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed on Friday that his home was among the thousands destroyed in the Palisades fire, which has ravaged over 20,000 acres. Redick, who was visibly emotional while speaking with reporters, shared his reaction to the devastating news. “I'm not sure I've wept or wailed like that in several years,” he said.

Redick, who was appointed as the Lakers' coach in June, lived in a rented house in Pacific Palisades with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons. Despite having spent a relatively short time in the community, Redick expressed his deep connection to the area and its residents. The destruction of the community has been particularly difficult for him to come to terms with, given the warm welcome his family received.

Redick recalled his experience of visiting Pacific Palisades after returning from the Lakers' road game in Dallas on Tuesday, when the fire broke out. “It was not prepared for what I saw,” he said, reflecting on the devastating scene that greeted him. The Lakers trained at their practice facility on Friday, as the team prepares for their upcoming games amidst the challenging circumstances.

Lakers coach JJ Redick described the destruction of his home in the Palisades fire as “complete devastation.” “It's complete devastation and destruction. I don't think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that. Our home is gone,” Redick said, struggling to come to terms with the loss. He emphasized the significance of the items lost in the fire, saying, “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 also acknowledged that some losses are irreparable. “There's certain things that you can't replace, that will never be replaced,” he said. The Palisades fire has affected numerous families, including those of other sports figures.

Lakers coach JJ Redick lost his family's LA home in the Palisades Fire, but he's focused on helping the community along with the team 💜

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Five-time Olympic swimming gold medallist Gary Hall Jr. was among those forced to evacuate their homes. Hall recounted his experience, saying, “I was getting pelted by embers on that first run. So I grabbed my dog and some dog food, and that was it.” Hall, who took only a few essential items, including his dog, insulin, a painting of his grandfather, and a religious artifact, was unable to retrieve his Olympic medals.

Hall, who has found refuge with family in San Diego, is preparing for a long and challenging recovery process. “I'm preparing for a complete rebuild” of his life, he told the Los Angeles Times. The devastating impact of the Palisades fire has left many families, including Hall's, facing significant losses and an uncertain future.