Lakers coach JJ Redick and his family lost their home and possessions in the devastating fires in Los Angeles last week, but two San Antonio Spurs stars gave Redick’s sons an assist toward rebuilding their basketball memorabilia collections.
After the Spurs beat the Lakers 126-102 Monday night in Los Angeles, Victor Wembanyama and veteran Chris Paul — a former teammate of Redick’s on the Los Angeles Clippers — walked to the baseline seats and took off their jerseys, with Redick’s children, Knox and Kai, each presented with one. The players autographed the jerseys, then posed for a photo with the smiling boys.
An emotional JJ Redick said after the game how much he appreciated the gesture.
“If you’re in the league long enough, you have this big circle, and it’s people you like, people you love and then it’s your brothers, and Chris is in that inner, inner circle of brothers,” Redick said. “He called me this afternoon and said, ‘Vic and I are gonna go — whether you win or we win — we’re gonna go over and give the boys jerseys. He’s well aware that they’re huge NBA fans.”
Redick said his sons had built their collection through the years, as NBA stars would visit their home to appear on Redick’s podcast. The players typically left autographed basketball cards or other memorabilia for the kids.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves was the first to gift jerseys to Knox and Kai, leaving two for them at the team’s practice facility earlier, and Redick said Monday night how much he appreciated the gesture.
Paul echoed Redick’s statement about the close bond the two share.
“You play a lot of years in this league, and some guys are just teammates, but JJ is part of my family,” Paul said. “So, him and his wife, those kids — Knox and Kai … I know a lot of people lost family members, homes, stuff like that. It hits different when the people are close to you.”
