JJ Redick is enjoying a fantastic debut campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers. The rookie head coach had done a phenomenal job in leading the Purple and Gold closer to an automatic playoff berth while playing an electric brand of basketball some fans may argue hasn’t been seen since the Lakers’ 2020 title run.
While having players like LeBron James and Luka Doncic helps make your rookie coaching season look better, it’s his approach in creating intriguing offenses that helped him win the job and possibly lead the Lakers to a FInals appearance in June.
However, not everything has been all positive for Redick’s first season. He was among the people most devastated by the California wildfires in January, making life off the court a little tougher for the former journeyman sharpshooter.
Redick is dedicated to helping his local community rebuild, though. He talked about his dedication to his new home and his long-term plans.
JJ Redick works to rebuild Los Angeles through rec center reconstruction
Los Angeles Times’ Dan Wolke followed the Lakers head coach around his community in the Palisaides through multiple days. Not only did he return to his burned-down home for the first time since the wildfires, but also the rec center where he coached a youth team.
Redick had an emotional moment when he saw the place he considered the center of their community:
“What I think the rec center represents to the community and what it certainly …” Redick started saying but he couldn’t finish the sentence, stopping his walk to the bluffs to cry for everything this place has lost.
He swallowed his grief, took a breath and tried again, the thought of his community losing its heartbeat nearly too much to bear.
“What it certainly represented in my family, just hopeful that we can get this done in a timely fashion,” he said.
With this in mind, he plans to work with multiple groups to help rebuild the rec center and eventually work towards re-establishing a line of essential facilities and services to help return the community to a new normal.
Redick wants to stay in LA even if he’s no longer the Los Angeles Lakers head coach
The former The Old Man and the Three host said that he fell in love with the community when he moved in. He explained that the Pacific Ocean, the friendliness of his neighbors, and the nature surrounding him convinced him to build his life in the City of Angels.
He also stressed that while he wants to coach the Los Angeles Lakers for a long time, he understands it’s a business. He is an Angelino through and through.
“I’m not moving again. I’m not moving my kids again,” he told Wolke. “We’re in it for the long haul. I would love to be the Lakers coach for the next 15 to 20 years. If I’m not the Lakers coach, I’m in it for the long haul in L.A.”
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