Lowry retires as Raptor after 20 NBA seasons
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- Kyle Lowry signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors and announced his retirement on social media Tuesday, July 7 (7/7) — a deliberate nod to his No. 7 jersey worn throughout his Toronto tenure.
- Lowry is one of only 12 players in NBA history to play 20 seasons, and one of just two point guards to reach that mark alongside Chris Paul; Mike Conley Jr. will join the club this season.
- The six-time All-Star, whose selections all came as a Raptor, helped lead Toronto to the 2019 NBA Championship and earned his lone All-NBA nod in 2015-16.
- A Philadelphia native and Villanova product, drafted No. 24 by Memphis in 2006, Lowry also suited up for Houston, Miami, and the Philadelphia 76ers — where he finished his playing career with 14 games last season.
- Over 1,187 regular-season games, Lowry averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists; his 2,209 career 3-pointers rank 14th in NBA history, and he reached the playoffs in 12 of his 20 seasons.
- Lowry won Olympic gold with Team USA at the 2016 Rio Games and was announced last year as an analyst for Prime Video, giving him a post-playing role before stepping off the court for good.
Why it matters: Lowry was the connective tissue of the greatest era in Raptors history, and his 20-year milestone places him in a fraternity of just 12. With all six of his All-Star nods coming in Toronto and a 2019 ring on his résumé, his ceremonial homecoming closes the book on the franchise's championship window while his already-locked Prime Video analyst role extends his NBA influence beyond playing.
