Panic in Los Angeles with the fires: JJ Redick loses his house and Steve Kerr describes it as "surreal"

The NBA decided to postpone the game scheduled for Thursday in Los Angeles between the Hornets and the Lakers due to the devastating wildfires that have destroyed over 5,300 structures in the area, including the home of Lakers coach, JJ Redick. According to sources cited by ESPN, Redick's rental home in Pacific Palisades was one of the properties destroyed by the largest of the multiple fires affecting the Los Angeles metropolitan area this week.

Prior to the game against the Mavericks in Dallas on Tuesday, Redick had mentioned that his family was among those evacuated due to the imminent danger in the region. On the other hand, Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, also experienced the loss of his childhood home in Pacific Palisades. Kerr confirmed that his 90-year-old mother, Ann, managed to evacuate in time and is safe.

Thursday marked the second consecutive day that a sports event in downtown Los Angeles was suspended due to the emergency. On Wednesday, an NHL game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Calgary Flames was also postponed. Additionally, the NFL decided to relocate the NFC wild-card game between the Rams and the Vikings, originally planned for Monday at SoFi Stadium, to Glendale, Arizona.

In an official statement, the Lakers expressed, "Our hearts break for Los Angeles. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this unimaginable situation. We deeply appreciate the emergency teams and all those coming together in these times of need. Tonight's game will be rescheduled to prioritize what truly matters today."

The NBA also issued a message of support, stating, "The entire NBA family sends its solidarity to the Los Angeles community at this difficult time. We are deeply grateful to the local firefighters and rescuers who have shown incredible courage. Our prayers are with all those affected by the devastation caused by these wildfires."

The flames have consumed approximately 45 square miles, equivalent to the size of San Francisco, and evacuation orders have been issued for about 180,000 people. The Palisades fire is the most destructive in Los Angeles' history, with 5,316 structures destroyed as of Thursday afternoon.

Kerr, visibly moved, described the destruction of his hometown, including the Palisades Charter High School, stating, "It's my hometown, and many of my friends, practically all of them, have lost their homes, their families' homes, our childhood homes. It's surreal and devastating, but fortunately almost everyone managed to escape."

Reflecting on his childhood home, Kerr mentioned that his mother was able to salvage some belongings, like photos and paintings, before leaving the family property they had acquired in 1969. "I was there just two weeks ago for dinner. We celebrated my mother's 90th birthday in that house. This summer, we had a gathering with a hundred guests on that hill, with amazing views. Now seeing the images of Sunset Boulevard in the Palisades is striking, it looks apocalyptic."

The coach also noted that some team members, like Everett Dayton, the video coordinator, and player Draymond Green, were luckier as their homes in Los Angeles remain standing. Meanwhile, Clippers' star Kawhi Leonard left the team in Denver to return to Los Angeles following his family's evacuation.

Wind gusts are expected to intensify between Thursday night and Friday morning, with another period of strong winds next week, which could worsen the situation. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fires.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pánico en Los Angeles con los incendios: JJ Redick pierde su casa y Steve Kerr lo describe como "surrealista·