Kyle Lowry retires as a Raptors legend after nine seasons defining the franchise
The point guard announced his retirement Tuesday after leading Toronto to its only NBA championship in 2019 and setting franchise records.
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Kyle Lowry announced his retirement as a Toronto Raptors player on Tuesday, closing out a nine-season career that reshaped what it meant to wear the uniform.
The point guard arrived in the summer of 2012 as a trade acquisition with no expectation of staying long. He left as the franchise's all-time leader in three-pointers made (1,518), assists (4,277), and steals (873), and a six-time All-Star. More than that: he was the engine of the Raptors' first and only NBA championship run in 2019.
Lowry's signature moment came in the Finals' first quarter of Game 6, when he seized control early against the Golden State Warriors. He scored 15 of his 26 points in that opening frame alone—going 5-for-6 from the field, including four three-pointers—setting the tone for Toronto's title clincher. It was the knockout blow a championship team needed when it mattered most.
Before that, the path was marked by heartbreak. Through the mid-2010s, the Raptors couldn't break through LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the playoffs, an era that became known as "LeBronto." But on February 23, 2016, Lowry delivered a career-best 43 points on 15-for-20 shooting, with nine assists—a performance that underscored his capacity to carry the team in moments that counted.
After leaving Toronto, Lowry spent time with the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers. His return as a Raptors player fulfilled a promise he'd made when he departed the franchise.
