The Los Angeles Lakers returned to action on Monday night after postponing a pair of games due to the wildfires that are destroying southern California. Things didn't go too well for them, as the San Antonio Spurs destroyed them 126-102, but after the game, Chris Paul made a heartwarming gesture to his former teammate JJ Redick.
Redick, who is Los Angeles' head coach, lost his home to the fires in California. It's understandably been a tough time for him and his family, but he was thrilled to see the Lakers return to action on Monday after having previously said he wanted the team to keep on playing rather than postponing their games.
The Lakers head coach and his family lost quite a lot in the fire, including quite a bit of sports memorabilia that belonged to his sons, Knox and Kai. After the game, Paul and Victor Wembanyama gave Redick's sons their game-worn jerseys, with the legendary point guard reflecting on what the moment meant for him.
"You play a lot of years in this league and some guys are just teammates, but JJ is part of my family," Paul said after the game. "I know a lot of people lost family members, homes, and stuff like that. It just hits different when people are close to you...I actually told him today I wanted to do that for his boys. I know how big of basketball fans they are. It's just a tough situation."
I asked Chris Paul about JJ Redick and gifting his kids with a jersey postgame: "I know a lot of people lost family members, homes. It just hits different when people are close to you…I told him today I wanted to do that for his boys. I know how big of basketball fans they are."
— LoJo Media (@LoJoMedia) January 14, 2025
Paul and Redick spent four years playing together on the Los Angeles Clippers, and they became quite close during that time. So, with Redick struggling through a tough time, Paul found a unique way to give back and help his family out by providing his sons with a moment they will never forget
Some things are bigger than basketball, and this is one such instance. Redick and the Lakers may not have gotten the win, but Paul and Wembanyama teamed up after the game to create a moment that Redick and his family will never forget, and that's ultimately what sports should be about.
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- Owen Crisafulli, Athlon Sports
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