The flames of the LA Wildfires have taken more from the West Coast than anyone imagined. Nature’s indiscrimination was in full force and JJ Redick found that out by losing his home, just like thousands of others. But for a sports figure, fight is the name of the game and JJ Redick has a lot of that in him. Not only did he cope with the adversity, he even laughed in its face. Anthony Davis saw it firsthand and couldn’t be more in awe of his HC.

In the latest interview with Shams Charania, Davis raised the curtains on the scenes behind it. Among those was how JJ reacted to the devastating loss and a display of sheer endurance. “He came in and you can see like he made a joke,” AD revealed of his HC’s first action after the LA situation. “He always comes to practice in sweats or shorts and he had flipflops on, no socks, you know he couldn’t get socks and everything. He was just kind of making a joke about the whole situation to kind of ease the room.”

Redick didn’t want the others to feel tense about the situation. Highlighting his surprise at JJ’s mood, AD drew comparison with the depressing aftermath of the pandemic in 2020. “He came out and just said what everybody was saying. Then, like sports can kind of bring joy to any situation,” the center told Shams. “Especially something devastating like that and us being the Lakers, we got a chance to get back on the floor.”

Sport’s power to help people through adversity is felt by those who need it the most. LA needed its basketball back and Redick obliged. He used the privilege he has in his position to inspire the city to get through this burning ash pile. “LA is looking upon us to bring some type of joy, even if it’s for two and a half hours, and he made sure that we were prepared…he just wants to make sure that when we go out and whenever we play that it was on us the players, the organization to go out and do whatever we need to do to bring joy back to the city,” Davis concluded. But when the time came to face the media for the first time since the tragedy, Redick’s cheerful demeanor had a contrasting change.

LA Wildfires took a toll on JJ Redick as emotional HC opened up about his loss

When JJ Redick was on the training court, he was in his sanctuary. The utter chaos couldn’t touch him there. But the media room is a different place. With all the questions shot at him over the conundrum, Redick’s tough visage finally showed a crack.

“I was not prepared for what I saw. It’s complete devastation and destruction,” Redick told reporters after practice on Jan 10. “I went through most of the village, and it’s all gone. I don’t think you can ever prepare yourself for something like that.”

Per latest reports, the wildfires have gobbled up $385 million worth of assets in California. While Palisades and Eaton fires are close to being under control, the Hughes fire is far from the ideal containment situation. But the flames have charred whatever it encountered in Redick’s rented house. “Everything we own that was of any importance to us after 20 years together as a couple and 10 years of parenting was in that house. There are certain things that you can’t replace,” the 40-year-old said.

Basketball however, is trying its best to make him forget all the pain. The Lakers’ latest win over the reigning champs is proof of the undying will of Redick and his players. And the hope from here on only will be to keep building on the foundation just like LA is rising up again.