Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr revealed that the wildfires burning through the Los Angeles area destroyed his childhood home and high school.
The Palisades Fire continues to wreak havoc on Los Angeles County. The house where he grew up and his mother, Ann Kerr, still resides is one of the countless structures destroyed so far.
Speaking to the media earlier this week, Kerr revealed how hard it has been to see the calamity wipe through his hometown.
‘It’s been tough,’ Kerr shared. ‘My family’s fine. My mom is in good hands, but her house is gone. So I’ve been on the phone with my siblings quite a bit.’
‘You know, family calls with my mom,’ he continued. ‘But she’s got a lot of support and friends, so she’s safe and sound. But you know, that’s my home town. All my friends who are from there, pretty much, they’ve all lost their homes.’
Kerr attended Palisades Charter High School and said the fires have engulfed the school. However, he is glad that his family, friends, and most members of the community are safe.
@nbcsportsauthentic Steve Kerr speaks about the Palisades Fire that destroyed his childhood home
‘Family homes, childhood homes, our whole high school’s gone. Our town looks like it’s been completely wiped out. Surreal and devastating. But fortunately, almost everyone escaped.
The Chicago Bulls legend also shared how the LA disaster reminded him of the Lahaina fires that took 102 lives in 2023. CNN reported at least 10 deaths as tolls remain unclear in Southern California.
‘The pictures remind me of Lahaina from a couple years ago,’ Kerr shared. ‘I’m so happy that there wasn’t a loss of life that the people in Hawaii experienced.’
‘But it’s hard to even fathom how Pacific Palisades rebuilds and how it becomes a thriving community again. It’s just shocking.’
‘A lifetime of memories and occasions,’ Kerr added. ‘Birthday parties and everything else. To see the destruction, the devastation — it’s unfathomable.’
Following Golden State’s win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Kerr added that the scenes in LA are apocalyptic amid the tragedy.
‘It’s an idyllic place,’ Kerr shared. ‘It’s a beautiful town, sunsets every night. Just amazing memories. My dad taught at UCLA, so that drive from Pacific Palisades down Sunset Boulevard to the campus at UCLA is one I’ve made a million times.
‘So many great memories. Then to see the images of Sunset Boulevard and the Palisades — just shocking. Looks apocalyptic. Devastating.’
Kerr’s father, Malcolm H. Kerr, also served as the Middle East Studies Association president in 1972. He was tragically shot and killed by two gunmen outside his office during the Lebanese Civil War in 1984 while Steve played collegiate basketball at the University of Arizona.
