Kyle Lowry Retires After Two Decades in Basketball

As one significant figure from the Raptors’ 2019 championship team steps back, another is saying goodbye to professional basketball.

Veteran guard Kyle Lowry announced his retirement via an Instagram video on Tuesday morning, concluding a 20-year career that included nine seasons with the Raptors.

Now 40, Lowry played only 14 games for the 76ers last season. In his video, he expressed his intention to retire as a member of the Raptors, a team he proudly calls “home.”

“I’ve been lucky to play this game for 20 years,” he shared. “I’m retiring as a Toronto Raptor after 20 years and a day. Seven (jersey) forever.”

This conclusion to his career makes sense, considering Lowry’s most impactful years unfolded in Toronto from 2012 to 2021. He played a crucial role in securing the team’s sole championship, sharing the spotlight with Kawhi Leonard, who just rejoined the Raptors after a recent trade.

Starting out with the Grizzlies and Rockets, Lowry was traded to Toronto before the 2012-13 season, where he truly found his stride. Over 601 games with the Raptors, he averaged 17.5 points per game and made six consecutive All-Star appearances from 2015 to 2020.

In fact, the 2015-16 season was a standout for him, finishing tenth in MVP voting and earning All-NBA Third Team accolades.

During the Raptors’ 2019 championship run, Lowry averaged 19.2 points per game in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bucks and contributed 16.2 points per game in the Finals versus the Warriors.

“We knew what we were playing for,” he recalled about the 2018-19 championship team. “The city of Toronto and the country of Canada.”

After leaving the Raptors, Lowry spent over two years with the Heat before wrapping up his career with the 76ers, primarily in a reserve role.

Throughout his journey, Lowry maintained averages of 13.8 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.2 rebounds across 1,187 games.

In his retirement announcement, he took a moment to thank his brother, mother, grandmother, wife, and children, as well as his Villanova coach Jay Wright and former Raptors teammates and coaches.

Lowry expressed deep pride in what his No. 7 jersey represented throughout his career. “It represents me, my family, everything I’ve gone through, the growth, the maturity—it’s all in there,” he explained, summing up his journey with words like hard work, grit, passion, and, obviously, being a champion.