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Pali High Boys Basketball Team Visits with Warriors Coach Steve Kerr and Lakers Coach JJ Redick after NBA Game Feb. 6

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

It has been a trying season to be sure for the Palisades High  boys basketball team but the players and coaches were gifted a memory they will never forget last Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.

First-year coach Jeff Bryant and his players were invited to the LA Lakers’ game against Pacific Division rival Golden State and after the home team won 120-112  they got to meet Warriors coach and Pali High alum Steve Kerr, his 90-year-old mother Ann and Lakers rookie head coach JJ Redick.

“It was great… they really laid out the red carpet for us,” Bryant said. “Great seats, all you can eat food, drinks… tons of Kobe shoes and gear for the program. It was special for the boys and we’re so grateful to both organizations for making it happen.”

Kerr played for the Dolphins under their first coach, Jerry Marvin, wearing No. 24 and graduating in 1983. The house he grew up in at the top of Chautauqua burned down in the Palisades Fire, but Ann safely evacuated. Steve went on to play for Lute Olson at the Universty of Arizona. He has won nine NBA titles (five as a player, four as a coach), but this evening was all about his alma mater.     

“The Lakers did a great job of helping put this together,” he said at the pre-game press conference. “I want to thank [Lakers owner and fellow Pali High graduate] Jeanie Buss and [Special Projects Manager] Linda Rambis. It’ll be nice to spend a little time with the Pali team. I know a lot of them lost their homes and JJ and I know exactly what they’re going through. So if we can give them something to remember and also get away from what’s been happening lately, hopefully that’s a nice thing for them.”

Wearing a Palisades cap, Kerr shook hands with each of the Pali High players and reflected on his days donning the blue and white over 40 years ago. On a back table were Warriors t-shirts, sweatshirts, bags and Kobe sneakers.

Senior guard Matin Farhangnia, who lost his home in the fire, asked Kerr if he’d consider speaking at graduation in the spring and the two exchanged numbers.    

Redick, whose rental home in the Palisades was also destroyed in the blaze, said he drove by the high school every day and that he was in shock seeing the devatsation the next day. Asked what stars have that average players do not he cited mindset and work ethic.

“Every team I was ever on we all knew who the best player was,” he said, wearing a gray sweatshirt with “Pali Strong” emblazoned in blue across the front.   

Upon being told the Dolphins were facing Western League rival Westchester the next day, Kerr’s final message to them was simple: “Go beat the Comets!”