Let’s rewind to last summer. After parting ways with Darvin Ham, the Lakers had a huge role to fill. And it took a while. They had serious talks with NCAA’s successful coach Dan Hurley, but unfortunately, that didn’t work out. So, they turned to JJ Redick. It was an unexpected choice, especially since he was an inexperienced coach for a team like the Lakers. Fans weren’t thrilled. But President Jeanie Buss was clear. “We wanted to think a different way.” It was a big opportunity for Redick, but also a bit scary, as he had a whole community to prove himself to. But did you know that Redick almost turned down the job because of family concerns?

The discussion came up on the Games with Names show, where Jeanie Buss made the revelation. “When we hired him, I was very excited,” she said. Jeanie praised Redick by calling him a smart, competitive, and passionate basketball mind. However, she mentioned that his family wasn’t initially thrilled about the move. “He had to move his family from Brooklyn, his wife and two young kids, and I’m not sure they were really excited about moving because he took the job.” But why?

The reason was understandable. It’s a huge transition. “They were already in school and, so now they have to uplift away from all their friends and come to LA,” she added. It was definitely a tough decision for the Redick couple, especially since they had to get their kids into a new school and leave behind the life they had built in Brooklyn. But in the end, it all worked out. What happened next was beyond anyone’s expectations.

Major tragedy shifted Jeanie Buss’ perspective on JJ Redick’s wife

The fast-paced life in Los Angeles came to a halt in January as devastating fires swept through the city. Thousands of acres of land, along with countless businesses and homes, were destroyed in the blaze. Among the casualties was JJ Redick’s home, adding to the already challenging transition for him and his family. That only added to Buss’ tension.

“They rent a house, and it lost in the fires. I heard about that, so, I was worried that his wife was going to say, ‘Okay, I’m out. I’m done. I’m not—this was not meant to be.'” Jeanie shared with the host. But things didn’t turn out that way. She continued, “Instead, it’s like they realized, they want to be part of rebuilding the community. Yeah, and they’ve already, really taken their place in Laker, the Laker family.”

After moving to LA, JJ Redick rented a home in Pacific Palisades, but sadly, the fire didn’t spare it. The family went through a tough time, but Redick’s thoughtful wife was determined to stay and give back to the community. Redick planned to start a foundation, beginning with the Palisades Recreation Center, to support public facilities across Southern California. With their noble efforts, they’re sure to play a big part in bringing life back to a city that once shined so brightly.