Redick hopes the Lakers’ return brings “some joy” amid LA’s fire crisis

LOS ANGELES – With the Lakers set to play their first game after a six-day layoff due to the Southern California wildfires, coach JJ Redick took a moment to focus on something he hoped could be won after so much has been lost .

“I think a group works best when you draw strength from each other,” said Redick, whose home was one of thousands lost to the fires in the past week. “Then it is our job to give strength and give hope and give joy. Sport is many things, and sport can certainly provide an escape and a distraction; and hopefully sport – and tonight – can give some joy, as well.”

The Lakers worked with the NBA, Los Angeles County officials and the San Antonio Spurs to hold Monday’s game as scheduled, and announced that the franchise would dedicate the game to the LA community and the first responders who have worked to help aid the fires . has killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures spread over 40,000 hectares of charred land.

“Sports work really well when the team, the organization, has a connection to the city and the fans feel a connection to the team,” Redick said before the Lakers lost 126-102 to the Spurs. “And then it just kind of flows in a perpetual cycle of that. The Lakers have that with the city of Los Angeles. Having played here before and lived here, I’m well aware of that relationship. And part of the reason I would to train here was to participate in it.”

The Lakers teamed up with all of LA’s professional sports teams to raise more than $8 million for local relief efforts, and the team kicked off a donation drive Monday that will continue through Saturday to collect essential personal items and non-perishable food items for home games on Crypto .com Arena and at the team’s training facility in El Segundo.

Redick said several Lakers players were forced to leave their homes following evacuation orders, as were so many others.

Anthony Davis, who said he could see the flames through the windows of his home, was forced to evacuate with his family on Friday before being allowed to return later this weekend.

“The fight is not over,” Davis said. “We still have a lot to do.”

He added that he wanted to meet in person with first responders and arrange for Lakers tickets as a sign of gratitude.

“I’m just trying to figure it all out and do my part as one of the leaders here in our community,” Davis said.

Despite the upheaval surrounding the team, Redick said the Lakers got closer during the unscheduled break in their game schedule, with contests against the Charlotte Hornets and another game against the Spurs postponed indefinitely.

“True, I think it was our best three days in the gym — non-game, obviously — but our best three days in the gym since the first three days of training camp,” Redick said. “It was the right spirit, we got a lot done and the guys were super connected.”

LA players took the court before Monday’s contest wearing special black warm-up jerseys emblazoned with the Lakers logo along with the Los Angeles Fire Department symbol and the message “Thank you, first responders.” Redick also wore the Lakers/LAFD logo as a patch on the arm of his sweater.

Prior to tip-off, Lakers announcer Lawrence Tanter invited the crowd to participate in a moment of silence and reflection.

“Our hearts go out to those who have suffered from this terrible tragedy,” he said.

Thank you for the heroes who protect LA pic.twitter.com/BwqcJkX3aI

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) 14 January 2025

Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, one of the players displaced by the fires, also took the microphone to address the fans from center court.

“We definitely want to give a shoutout to the first responders who are putting their lives on the line right now to protect our community,” Vincent said.

The Clippers, meanwhile, returned to host the Miami Heat on Monday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, about 10 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. Team representatives covered each seat with white give-away towels emblazoned with the words “LA Strong” and a blue image of the state of California.

“We’re so thankful for the first responders, but we feel bad for the victims,” ​​announcer Eric Smith said before the Clippers’ 109-98 win against the Heat. “The smoke will lift and they will come back and rebuild because this is L.A. Today we all stand together (as) one team, one Los Angeles.”

Clippers guard James Harden, a Los Angeles native, acknowledged that while it can be hard to know what to say to people who have lost so much, it’s important to “just try to support, have your back and really come together and closer because, frankly, it’s the only route we have.”

Coach Ty Lue said his team and the entire Clippers organization are “trying to do everything we can to help.”

Redick, whose family is staying in a hotel while he suffers the loss of their Pacific Palisades home, again took the opportunity to thank everyone inside and outside the Lakers organization who has offered support thus far.

“I’m incredibly proud to be a part of the Lakers organization and our response,” Redick said. “It just makes you feel proud to be with the Lakers.”

After their game with the Lakers, San Antonio’s Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama presented Redick’s two sons, Knox and Kai, with their game-worn uniforms and autographed the jerseys for the kids to keep as keepsakes.

Redick, who played with Paul on the Clippers, said the point guard was aware his sons lost their collection of basketball memorabilia in the fire.

“When you’ve been in the league long enough, you have this big circle, and it’s people you like, people you love, and then it’s your brothers — and Chris is in the inner circle of brothers,” Redick said . “I’m not surprised Chris did something like that.”

Paul was overcome with emotion when asked about the gesture afterwards.

“You play a lot of years in this league and some guys are just teammates, but JJ is part of my family,” Paul said. “So him and his wife, those kids – Knox and Kai… I know a lot of people lost family members, homes, things like that. It hits differently when people are close to you.”

ESPN’s Baxter Holmes and The Associated Press contributed to this report.