When he did speak, it was in brief, clipped snippets that gave the impression that he would much rather be getting a root canal. Everyone was asking themselves, “Who is this guy?”
As it happened, he was really impressive. Really quite something.
One of the greatest careers in franchise history, a Toronto career that is now over, began from such modest, challenging beginnings at Raptors training camp in 2012, when he was young, stubborn, injured, and not thinking about a long-term existence with a third NBA team in just six seasons.
In a sign-and-trade deal, Lowry will join the Miami Heat on a three-year deal when the NBA lifts its ban on free agent signings this Friday. Using the Heat logo and the tweet “Let’s Goo!!!!,” Lowry announced the relocation on Twitter.
According to reports, the Raptors acquired second-year forward Precious Achiuwa and veteran guard Goran Dragic in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.
If the first picture of Lowry remains, then so will a plethora of other images—so many instances of overwhelming happiness, fulfillment, and victory.
When one watched him hold what he referred to as “the gold ball” at Oracle Arena following Game 6 of the NBA Finals in 2019, holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy close to his chest as if it were one of his newborn sons, one could see that he was a completely satisfied man, knowing that he had caused a nation of fans to experience unimaginable joy. He gave a fantastic championship parade performance, constantly grinning, waving, and interacting with his adoring fans.
That was a turning point in the first 25 years of the franchise, and it will always be Lowry’s legacy in Toronto, regardless of what happens in the future.
It truly is astounding to consider that he made it this far during a nine-season journey marked by challenging moments.
When he first joined the team, he was a young contrarian who had come from a trade that had cost the Raptors essentially nothing. That trade, which the Raptors made in the summer to acquire Lowry for Gary Forbes and is now largely forgotten in team history, was orchestrated by then general manager Bryan Colangelo. The draft pick that was eventually traded for Steven Adams in Oklahoma City was by far the second-biggest component of the deal, but at the time of the deal’s completion, nobody knew what it would include.
As a stubborn young man, Lowry assumed he would play one season in Toronto and then go on. He and coach Dwane Casey had disagreements. Some at the top of the company couldn’t wait for him to be sent overseas. Teammate DeMar DeRozan, who would go on to become one of his closest friends in the world, was someone with whom he seldom spoke.
But to his eternal credit, Lowry transformed the Raptors—and himself—into something exceptional. As he grew older and more settled in his environment, he married and had two sons who were mainstays on the team from the time they could walk.
Seeing Lowry become the team’s leader and the bullheaded kid turn into Lowry the eminence and heart and soul was truly amazing. Lowry and Casey also resolved their differences and brought out the best in each other, and Lowry and DeRozan formed a bond that will live on forever in franchise history.
There were plenty of opportunities for it to not occur.
Prior to Monday, he had the opportunity to leave the team as a free agent twice but chose not to, either because of league financial constraints or a lack of a strong competitive fit. Additionally, he was well-paid by the Raptors, who gave him a $100 million (US) contract in 2017 and a one-year, $30 million extension in 2020. The Raptors had an agreement.
All the while, he developed.
Even the reporters, whom he frequently sparred with in the beginning, came to be a part of his life—if not his inner circle. He would make jokes when he could, got to know them and their lives, and eventually learned to value rather than torment them.
One time, following a pretty serious health scare, I needed a private moment with him during a morning shootaround. He looked me straight in the eye and said, “Doug, you almost died, I always got time for you.” It was truly remarkable. You wouldn’t have been believed if you had predicted that would occur eight years earlier.
But that was the experience that we had with Lowry. enjoyable and occasionally divisive
This is a poignant statement from Lowry from March of last year, the day before the NBA trade deadline, when it was very likely that he would be dealt. It illustrates his development and maturation.
“I went from being an impressionable child attempting to make sense of the world, asking questions like, ‘Why is everyone this, that, and the other?’ to, ‘Man, how do I help this young guy, how do I help this guy get paid, how do I help give my knowledge of…'” How can I help more now? I was literally trying to figure out who I was. I always knew that playing hard was my niche, but now it’s more about how can I help other people.
“I’m fine; I’m not just looking for help. As I’ve matured, I feel like I’ve become a person who wants to help the world and can help the world because I’ve had so many experiences—both good and bad, highs and lows—and I know I can help anybody. I want to help everyone else and help them continue to grow. Easy response.
Yes, he could occasionally be a pain. After the Raptors president traded his friend DeRozan in 2018, he didn’t speak to Masai Ujiri for months. It was also during that summer, when Lowry was training with
Even though he could be a pain, there was strangely something that made him charming about him.
It’s okay that he has always been a bit of a contrarian; the world needs people who are tough to counterbalance all the sweetness and light. For the nine years that he was a member of this team, “Kyle being Kyle” was just a given.
He was impressive to see on the court.
Every game, he gave it his all, never backing down, and always willing to give up his body to take the lead or his stats to take a big shot. His physique fluctuated; at times, he was incredibly fit, and at other times, he was rolly-polly.
Throughout the season with Leonard, he gave up points and shots when the circumstances demanded it, but he really put his stamp on the series in the first quarter of the championship-clinching Game 6 in Oakland, where he scored the first 11 points of the contest.
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The raw numbers speak for themselves: he leads the Raptors all-time in assists, steals, made and attempted three-pointers, games played, and minutes. Certainly, those figures reflect his nearly ten years as a team mainstay, but they also demonstrate his prolonged dominance on the court.
But it goes beyond just statistics. Lowry developed alongside the team and guided it through an unparalleled period of prosperity.
During the trade deadline conversation in March, Lowry was questioned regarding Nick Nurse’s statement stating that he was and still is the best player in the franchise’s history.
“It’s a difficult thing, man, I don’t know. I’ll let you guys make those decisions because I can’t comment on things like that.
It’s not a difficult choice.
Indeed. Yes, he is.
