By DANIEL MATTHEWS, US SENIOR SPORTS WRITER and ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 15:14 EST, 26 December 2025 | Updated: 15:14 EST, 26 December 2025
Lakers coach JJ Redick has revealed that his children had to do more than pen a letter to Santa to receive their preferred Christmas gifts.
Redick and his wife, Chelsea, told their two sons - Kai and Knox - that they needed to write a 'persuasive essay' explaining why their gift wishes should be granted.
Thankfully, both nine-year-old Kai and 11-year-old Knox passed the test and avoided disappointment on Christmas day.
'I thought my 9-year-old really knocked it out of the park,' Redick said before the Lakers hosted the Houston Rockets on Christmas night.
'A couple of his friends have one of those Meta VR headsets so he wanted one of those.'
The youngster received the headset that offers high definition virtual reality gaming and entertainment. Knox, meanwhile, was given an Apple watch.
JJ Redick's sons had to write a 'persuasive essay' about why they should get Christmas gifts
The LA Lakers coach, pictured with LeBron James, revealed the challenge he set his kids
The Redick family lost their home in the deadly Pacific Palisades wildfire last January
'We realize we have to start keeping tabs on him,' Redick explained. 'Obviously, he doesn't have a cell phone, but he has a cell number now, which is a big step for him.
'I thought it was the coolest thing. We went on our walk this morning with the dog and he was calling all his friends.'
The device also allows tracking and Redick added: 'Location services are on.'
The Redick family lost their home in the deadly Pacific Palisades wildfire last January.
In the wake of that tragedy, the boys - both basketball fanatics - were gifted signed, game-worn jerseys from Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul to replace part of their extensive memorabilia collection that was destroyed.