Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has said that the team wants to play and give people hope amid the massive destruction caused by wildfire in the city. Redick was seen holding back his tears on Friday after his rental house was wiped out by fire.
The NBA decided to postpone the Lakers’ match against the Charlotte Hornets. Subsequently, the league decided to postpone the Lakers’ game against the San Antonio Spurs and also the game between the Charlotte Hornets and LA Clippers.
“I was not prepared for what I saw,” Redick said. “It’s complete devastation and destruction. I had to go a kind of a different way to the house, but I went through most of the [Palisades] Village and it’s all gone. And I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that. Our home, our home is gone.”
Redick wanted to play against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday but the game was postponed.
“We obviously are going to work with the NBA, the Spurs, the city and do what’s right,” Redick said. “I want to play tomorrow; I want to coach tomorrow. I want these guys to play tomorrow and if we can play, we’ll play.”
Lakers guard Austin Reaves said Rob Pelinka, the team’s vice president of basketball operations and general manager, informed the players about Redick’s situation through a group text message.
“Not just me, but this team loves him and cares about him and his family,” Reaves said of Redick. “He’s such a competitor, he comes into work every single day — especially today — and wants to do his job. And there’s a million other things he could be thinking about doing right now, but he’s dedicated to what he’s doing here and obviously dedicated to his family, I know he’s taking care of them.”
Redick doesn’t want people to sympathize for him but says there will be families who would find it more difficult to rebuild their houses.
“I don’t want people to feel sorry for me and my family,” Redick said. “We’re going to be alright. There are people that, because of some political issues and some insurance issues, are not going to be alright. And we’re going to do everything we can to help anybody who is down and out because of this.”
The Lakers will next take on the Spurs on Monday.
