The Los Angeles communities of Pacific Palisades and Altadena were devastated in the winter of 2025 when wildfires ravaged both towns. Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick lived in the Palisades, and was devastated for the loss of memories from his home, and the loss that the entire community suffered.
Redick hadn’t been in the Palisades long — having only accepted the head coaching job in the summer of 2024 — but he had already become a major part of that community, and made it his mission to be a part of the rebuilding effort. A major step in that process began this week, when the city broke ground on a rebuilt community center.
“This place is very special to us. It was special to my kids,” Redick told KTLA5. “I mean, for essentially moving here and then six months later losing our home, losing this community center… My kids were here almost every day. I was here almost every day. This has always been sort of the hub of the Palisades.”
Seeing Palisades get to work on rebuilding such an important building shows the resilience of the town and how much it means to the people in it. Redick said — nearly two years ago — that he would be a part of this effort, and he has stuck to his word, being there at the groundbreaking event in the Lakers offseason.
Los Angeles reeled back in January 2025 when two major suburbs saw the devastating effects of two wildfires, but they are now turning a corner and bringing the community back together.
JJ Redick grateful to be Lakers coach
The reason Redick wants to get involved in the local community is because he has visions of being the Lakers’ head coach for several years to come.
After spending time in the media after his playing days came to an end, Redick knew he eventually wanted to get into coaching and the Lakers gave him his first opportunity despite no previous experience.
Redick has since led the Lakers to back-to-back 50-plus win seasons and he expressed how grateful he feels to be leading this organization.
“I had dreams to play at Duke, obviously the NBA,” Redick said on WSLS 10. “This journey has been beyond my wildest dreams and I’m pinching myself every day that I’m at Duke with Coach K, I’m pinching myself every day I’m in an NBA locker room, I’m pinching myself now that I get to coach the Lakers.”
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