Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has faced one of the most challenging chapters of his life after losing his family home in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year. The fires, which ravaged the Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas, destroyed thousands of structures and displaced countless families, including Redick’s.
Redick’s home he and his family had moved into last summer, was completely destroyed in the blaze. The loss was not just physical—it was deeply emotional.
“Everything we owned that was of any importance to us as a couple and ten years of parenting was in that house,” Redick said in an interview with Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “There are certain things that you can’t replace, that will never be replaced.”
Among the items lost were cherished family treasures, including his sons’ trophies, stuffed animals, and sentimental belongings that held years of memories. Redick’s wife, Chelsea Kilgore, described the moment they realized the extent of the damage.
“He was hysterical,” she said. “And he was just like, ‘It’s gone. And tell everyone else theirs is gone too. No one’s house is there.’”
The wildfires didn’t just impact Redick’s family—they devastated the entire community. Redick spoke about the loss of the neighborhood’s rec center, a place that had become a cornerstone for his family and others in the area.
“The rec center was such an important resource to my kids when we first arrived,” he said. “It reminded me of how central the gym was to my own hoops-centric youth.”
Despite the destruction, Redick has remained committed to helping rebuild the community. He has announced plans to spearhead a $50 million initiative to restore the rec center and other communal spaces, aiming to bring hope and stability to those affected by the fires.
“We’re committed to helping other people as much as we can, and we recognize that it’s going to be a long process,” he said.
Despite the emotional toll of losing his home, Redick has led the Lakers to one of their best seasons in years, transforming them into legitimate title contenders. His ability to balance the demands of coaching with his commitment to rebuilding his community has earned him admiration from players, fans, and colleagues alike.
While the loss of his home and belongings has been heartbreaking, Redick remains optimistic about the future.
“The personal loss is one thing, and that’s hard,” he said. “But it’s the loss of an entire community. That’s like the hardest part to process. There needs to be optimism and hope.”
