Lakers Coach JJ Redick Says He ‘Wept and Wailed’ After Seeing His Home Burned in Los Angeles Wildfires

Mar. 15, 2025

JJ Redick.Photo:Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty

Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty

Los Angeles Lakers coachJJ Redickopened up about the trauma of seeing his home and the Pacific Palisades community burned to the ground in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

“Everything we owned that was of any importance to us, almost 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenting, was in that house. There’s certain things that you can’t replace, that will never be replaced,” he added.

JJ Redick.Ethan Miller/Getty

Ethan Miller/Getty

Redick, 40, continued, sharing the “destruction” that he has witnessed since the fires began on Jan. 7.

“It’s an awful feeling to lose your home. I think what has happened over the last 72 hours from me being up there and from having a number of people that had homes in the Palisades that are also staying at the hotel, you really get a sense of just the communal destruction. I got back to the hotel, and of course my wife and I are emotional. I’m not sure I’ve wept or wailed like that in several years,” he said, according to the outlet.

LA fires.David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty

David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty

Noting that the community of the Pacific Palisades “has really just been so good to us,” Redick said that the focus now is to move forward despite how challenging it may be.

“We’re going to rebuild, and we want to help lead on that,” he said.

Before the Lakers game against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, Jan. 7, Redick spoke to the media about his family being forced to evacuate.

“I just want to acknowledge and send thoughts and prayers to everyone in Palisades right now. That’s where I live,” Redicksaid. “Our family, my wife’s family, my wife’s twin sister, they’ve evacuated. I know a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family.”

LA fires.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

As of Monday, Jan. 13, the L.A. fires are responsible for the deaths of 24 people, according to the LA County Medical Examiner, and at least 16 others declared missing.

Over 30,000 residents have also been displaced due to the multiple fires, which have destroyed thousands of homes and various city landmarks. It is being called the most destructive firestorm in Los Angeles history.

source: people.com