The historic wildfires raging in and around Los Angeles have impacted the lives of millions of Americans in the days since the infernos began, and the NBA community hasn’t been immune to the destruction.
Prior to Thursday night’s game between the Golden State Warriors and Detroit Pistons, 10th-year Warriors head coach Steve Kerr discussed the destruction of his childhood home with reporters. Kerr, who was a star basketball player at Palisades High School in Los Angeles before going on to win five NBA titles as a player and four as a coach, said his family purchased the home in 1969 when he was four years old.
“It’s a lifetime of memories and occasions, birthday parties and everything else,” Kerr told reporters ahead of his team’s 107-104 victory. “To see the destruction, the devastation, it’s just unfathomable. That’s my hometown.”
Kerr, who visited the home as recently as Dec. 26, said his 90-year-old mother, Ann Kerr, evacuated safety, and even taught a scheduled course at UCLA on Wednesday. Kerr’s father, Malcolm Kerr, was also a college professor and administrator before he was tragically killed in 1984 while serving as President of the American University of Beirut amid the Lebanese Civil War.
It was a similar outcome for first-year Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick.
Redick confirmed Thursday afternoon that his Pacific Palisades rental home, where and his family have been residing since the 40-year-old accepted the Lakers’ head coaching job in June, had been destroyed. Reddick told reporters that his loved ones had safely evacuated, but that, “I know a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family.”
Los Angeles Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard has also felt the impact. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue told reporters Wednesday that Leonard had taken an accused leave from the team to be with family members evacuating the devastation.
On the court, the wildfires — that have so far claimed at least 10 lives and prompted the evacuation of nearly 180,000 residents of the country’s second most populated city — have only forced the postponement of one game: Thursday night’s scheduled contest between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers. A makeup date has yet to be announced.
The NBA has rarely opted to postpone games as a result of natural disasters, weather or otherwise, with its most recent postponement prior to Thursday having happened in 2020 following the tragic death of NBA icon Kobe Bryant. The NBA has not yet made an announcement on Saturday night’s scheduled game between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs.
For its part, the NBA released a statement Thursday which read in part, “The entire NBA family sends its thoughts and support to the community of Los Angeles during this challenging time. We are grateful for the thousands of local firefighters and first responders who have demonstrated enormous bravery. Our prayers remain with those affected by the unimaginable devastation caused by the wildfires.”
The Lakers echoed that sentiment.
“We’re heartbroken for Los Angeles,” the franchise said in a statement Thursday. “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this unimaginable situation. And our gratitude is with the first responders and all of you who come together when we need each other the most. … We’re with you, LA.”
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