Lakers, Clippers return home

NBA SPOTLIGHT

Teams played on their home courts on Monday for first time since California fires started

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, right, and guard Chris Paul, center, pose after autographing their jerseys for Kai and Knox, children of Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick, left, after Monday’s game in Los Angeles. KEVORK DJANSEZIAN — ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Greg Beacham

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES >> Knox and Kai Redick are two basketball-obsessed kids who had amassed a big collection of NBA jerseys, trading cards and autographs thanks to their dad’s careers as a shooting guard, a podcaster and the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Redick boys then lost their entire memorabilia collection in the catastrophic wildfires that burned down their family home and much of their neighborhood in Pacific Palisades last week.

After the San Antonio Spurs beat JJ Redick’s Lakers on Monday night, Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul sought out the Redick boys and presented them with their game jerseys.

“I didn’t know they were huge fans like this, but JJ is a person that I like and who was directly impacted by this,” Wembanyama said. “So if I can make those kids’ day, I’ll do it.”

And though the Lakers lost their first game back at work since catastrophic wildfires killed at least 24 people and destroyed significant sections of their hometown, they’re hoping sports will help the city’s return to normalcy.

The Lakers and the Clippers both went back to work Monday night in Los Angeles’ first two NBA games since the fires devastated large parts of the area.

Lakers big man Anthony Davis said he had to evacuate his family after the fires got close enough to see from his property.

“Obviously a tough time for our city, and one thing we found out through the course of COVID, sports kind of brings joy back to people, even if it’s temporary,” Davis said. “We were eager to play basketball again in front of our fans. ... Definitely a tough situation in LA, and we appreciate everyone’s support from around the world.”

Davis said he hopes to meet personally with first responders to offer thanks, and he’s working on a way to thank them with tickets to a Lakers game.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of support and love and generosity that people have shown to me and my family, and really all families that have been affected by this,” Redick said.

The Lakers staged a donation drive outside their arena before they hosted the Spurs