July 11, 2012 was a day that forever changed the course of franchise history for the Toronto Raptors. It was on that day the Houston Rockets traded point guard Kyle Lowry to Toronto in exchange for Gary Forbes and a first round pick.
With his six years of NBA experience spent mostly as a backup, Lowry had a lot to prove to earn a starting roster spot with his new organization. He did exactly that during his nine-year tenure with the Raptors before a sign-and-trade deal sent him to the Miami Heat last week.
Lowry would break many records with the Raptors on his way to becoming a six-time NBA All-Star and leading the franchise to its first ever NBA championship in 2019.
Lowry started 585 of the 601 games he played with the Raptors, totalling 20,813 minutes. His 601 games is second in team history, only behind Raptors legend Demar DeRozan.
Lowry set franchise records with 4,277 assists, 873 steals, 1,518 three-pointers and 16 triple-doubles. Lowry sits second in Raptors history with 10,540 points, behind only—you guessed it—DeRozan.
He also set new team records in fouls drawn, turnovers caused and charges. His 129 charges since the 2016-17 season ranks first among all NBA players, showing his elite anticipation skills.
Lowry’s dedication to the game and desire to improve his craft made him an offensive and defensive force. He helped the Raptors to the playoffs in all but two of the seasons he played in Toronto, including a stretch of seven consecutive years from 2013 to 2020.
Lowry is an absolute fan-favourite and his leadership, talent and personality makes him one of, if not the greatest Raptor of all-time. He inspired a generation of Canadians to watch and play basketball just like Raptors legend Vince Carter did before him.
As another mark of his career accomplishments, Lowry’s number seven will be retired to the rafters at Scotiabank Arena. He’ll become the first player in Raptors history to have his number retired, an unparalleled honour.
In his nine-year career in Toronto, Lowry was a sporting and cultural icon and a crucial part of the team’s recent success. Why did the Raptors let him go?
At 35 years old, Lowry proved in the 2020 bubble and last season he can still play at an elite level. The 15-year NBA veteran still has a lot of talent but likely does not have many years of basketball left in him. This may be his last-ever NBA contract, so where he signed was an important choice.
In his end of season press conference in May, Lowry said supporting his family would play a huge role in determining his next move.
“I play this game for the love of the game, but at the end of the day, I want to make sure my family is still taken care of for generations to come,” Lowry said.
Money was not the only factor, however. Lowry is a true competitor and will stop at nothing to win.
“I want championships, that’s always been the goal,” Lowry said. “That’s why I play the game.”
In return for Lowry, the Raptors received power forward Precious Achiuwa and point guard Goran Dragić. This move makes the team younger and signifies the Raptors’ desire to reload on talent, but not completely rebuild.
Moving forward, Fred Van Vleet will likely start at point guard and Gary Trent Jr.—who signed a three-year, $54 million extension with the Raptors on Sunday—will start at shooting guard. Guards Malachi Flynn, Dragić and rookie Dalano Banton will come off the bench.
It’s impossible to describe how much Lowry meant to the organization and the fans, not only in Toronto but across Canada. John Tory, the mayor of Toronto, even called Lowry the “greatest Raptor of all time” and said he’s “confident that one day … there will be a statue celebrating his legacy in our city.”
My statement on the departure of Toronto Raptor Kyle Lowry.@Klow7 pic.twitter.com/5pHGZzjUNJ
— John Tory (@JohnTory) August 3, 2021
However, as a team that is getting younger, the Raptors likely felt it was time to move on from Lowry.
Will the Raptors be as good this year without Lowry as they were in previous years? Probably not. His basketball IQ, positive attitude, winning mentality, talent, leadership and veteran presence made this team a contender year in and year out.
He will be missed by his teammates on the court and all the Raptors fans. But even in a different city—a different country, no less—the legacy he left in the city of Toronto will never be forgotten.
Lowry will forever be immortalized in the hearts and minds of all Raptors fans worldwide.
Featured image by Ryan via Unsplash.
