JJ Redick helps rebuild Palisades Rec Center

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick attended a groundbreaking ceremony this week for a new Palisades Recreation Center, a facility destroyed in the January 2025 wildfires that also claimed his family's home. Redick's foundation, LA Sports Strong, hosted fundraisers critical to the rebuilding project, which will feature new indoor and outdoor courts.

Redick moved to the Pacific Palisades in the summer of 2024 and quickly became a community fixture, coaching his sons' basketball team at the center. The wildfires devastated the area 20 months ago, displacing thousands and forcing the Lakers to postpone games. Several players, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis, evacuated, and other team staffers also lost homes.

Community Hub Destroyed

"This place was very special to us. It was special to our kids," Redick said. "My kids were here every day. I was here almost every day. This has always been sort of the hub of the Palisades." The new center will include indoor basketball and pickleball courts alongside outdoor courts and playgrounds. Redick described the lasting impact of the disaster on his family in an interview with The Athletic's Dan Woike in January.

It didn't really get normal again for a long time, Redick said. And I think a lot of people are still going through that. And that was the angst that we felt as a family.

Lasting Impact and Recovery

The coach said his sons felt the effects for months, and the family's anxiety did not subside until they felt settled again, a process that took weeks. The response from Redick and his family was to deepen their roots in the community and aid in its recovery. The Wednesday groundbreaking marked a significant step in that process, aiming to restore a central pillar of neighborhood life.

The 2025 wildfires had a direct impact on the NBA schedule, forcing the Lakers to postpone contests. The team went nearly a week without playing games against the Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs. The disruption extended beyond the court, affecting players and staff personally.

Rebuilding Efforts

Redick's role has been key. Through the LA Sports Strong foundation he co-founded, he helped ensure the recreation center would be rebuilt. The organization hosted various fundraising events to support the project. For Redick, the effort is personal, stemming from the center's daily importance to his family before the fire.

The new facility promises to restore a key venue for local sports and recreation. Its planned features aim to serve the community broadly. The project represents a tangible move forward from a tragedy that affected countless residents, including prominent figures from the Los Angeles Lakers organization.