'The days are getting harder': Lakers keep playing as they deal with the devastation of the LA wildfires

Melissa Rohlin

FOX Sports NBA writer

LeBron James lived in Los Angeles in seven years. This is the second time he has been evacuated due to fire.

Back in 2019, his family was evacuated around 1:30 a.m. from their home in Brentwood due to the Getty fire. He took his credit card and his passport and went to three hotels that were fully booked before he found one available.

Six years later, James and his family were evacuated again last Thursday because of the Palisades Fire, which started two days earlier and has burned more than 23,000 acres. As of Wednesday evening, it was only 21 percent contained.

“Obviously there was a lot of emotion,” James said afterward The Lakers beat the Miami Heat on Wednesday, 117-108. “I have several dear friends who lost their homes in the Palisades. Obviously, my heart goes out to all the families, not only in the Palisades, but throughout LA County and all the surrounding areas because of the fires and things of that nature.

“There were a lot of emotions… Personally, I left. Personally, my family, we’ve been evacuated since Thursday night, so I’ve been in a hotel since we got back from Dallas. So, just to understand, but to stay strong for each other.

Of course, among James’ friends who lost their homes is Lakers coach JJ Redick. It’s been more than a week since his year-long lease in Pacific Palisades burned down. At first he was in shock, overcome with emotion at the loss of family belongings.

Now he must face the consequences of that tragedy.

“I would say the days are getting harder, to be honest,” Redick said, explaining that at first he was in “fight or flight,” focused on keeping his family safe and a roof over his head. .

“Then after a few days you realize it’s a logistical nightmare,” he said. “…I’m sure you’re well aware of this, but the price hike is happening right now and people are looking for homes.” We are still at the hotel. We have nowhere to stay starting next week. We’re working through it.”

For most people in Los Angeles, the last week has been terrifying. For some, it was heartbreaking. Instead of the Lakers serving as a distraction from this disaster, they are an example of what many people in the city are going through, even though they have far more resources than most to deal with it.

The death toll from the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire is at least 25. More than 30 people are missing. More than 200,000 people were evacuated. More than 12,000 buildings were destroyed.

I’m from Los Angeles and went to Crossroads School in Santa Monica before graduating from Palisades Charter High, which caught fire last week. My Facebook timeline has been a heartbreaking slide show of tragedy over the past week.

Two of my close friends lost their childhood homes. A former classmate posted that her father, who has Alzheimer’s, lost his home in the Palisades fire and is in a very difficult situation because he can’t move far from the area because his brain care is nearby . Another former classmate posted how she had just taken in her mother, who had lost everything.

Inside the Lakers organization, a shooting guard named Rohan Ali was reeling after his parents lost their home in Altadena in the Eaton fire. A gofundme has been started to help them rebuild. As of Wednesday night, over $84,000 had been raised, including a $20,000 donation from Anthony Davis.

The air was toxic. There are ashes everywhere. Nowhere felt safe, especially with winds gusting to 60mph in some areas on Wednesday and widespread red flag warnings.

And the nightmare doesn’t seem to end.

Another red flag warning could return next week, according to the weather service, threatening to breathe new life into any smoldering flames. And while air quality has seemingly improved, the AKI apparently doesn’t account for asbestos or lead or other toxic substances in the air.

He’s dizzy. Whole communities were destroyed. About 1,600 policies in Pacific Palisades were dropped by State Farm in July. Businesses burned down. The devastation of the city’s wildlife and surrounding nature is heartbreaking. So many people are left to pick up the pieces.

When the fires first broke out, the NBA canceled two games between the Lakers and the Clippers. But their seasons resumed Monday, providing a modicum of normalcy for Angelenos looking to get away from it all.

Outside Cripto.com Arena, the Lakers are collecting donations of food and toiletries for victims of the fire. And 12 Los Angeles professional sports teams have joined together to provide an $8 million donation to fire victims and first responders.

And in the midst of the Lakers’ re-starting season, we got a brief reminder Wednesday of how sports can bring joy.

Cameras caught a young girl sitting courtside holding her mouth and crying after James waved her off in the first quarter. One of James’ family friends sent him a video of her reaction, which went viral on social media. James saw it at halftime.

“Having that kind of connection with somebody, where they can have that kind of reaction, I think that’s what it’s all about,” James said.

After the game ended, he walked up to the girl, gave her one of his I Promise bracelets and posed for photos with her.

“I think it will be something that hopefully they will never forget,” he said.

It was a sweet moment of pure happiness in the middle of a week filled with so much fear, sadness and heartbreak for so many.

Melissa Rollins is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, The Bay Area News Group and Saint Anthony Ekspres-Novosti. Follow her on Twitter @bi melissarohl.

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