As one key member of the 2019 Raptors title team returns, another is saying goodbye to the sport.
Veteran guard Kyle Lowry announced his retirement Tuesday morning with an Instagram video, ending a 20-year run that included nine seasons with Toronto.
Lowry, 40, appeared in 14 games with the 76ers this past season, and said in a video Tuesday that he will be retiring with Toronto, which he called his “home.”
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play this game for two decades,” Lowry said.
“I’m retiring as a Toronto Raptor, 20 years and one day. Seven (his jersey) forever.”
It’s only fitting that Lowry will end his career with the Raptors since he enjoyed his best years with the team from 2012-21 and helped the franchise — alongside Kawhi Leonard, who is re-joining Toronto after being acquired in a recent trade with the Clippers — win its only championship.
The former Villanova star began his career with the Grizzlies and Rockets before being traded to the Raptors ahead of the 2012-13 season.
Lowry blossomed with Toronto, averaging 17.5 points per game across 601 games and making six straight All-Star teams from 2015-20.
He enjoyed his best season of his career in 2015-16 when he finished 10th in MVP voting and earned Third-Team All-NBA honors.
During the team’s championship run in 2019, Lowry averaged 19.2 points to down the Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals and 16.2 points per game against the Warriors in the Finals.
“We knew what we were playing for,” Lowry said of the 2018-19 title team. “The city of Toronto and the country of Canada.”
Lowry eventually moved on from the Raptors, joining the Heat for two-plus seasons before finishing his career with two-plus season with the 76ers, mostly as a reserve.
For his career, Lowry averaged 13.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds across 1,187 games.
His Instagram video Tuesday included him thanking his brother, mother, grandma, wife and children — along with Villanova coach Jay Wright and his ex-Raptors teammates and coaches.
Lowry took pride in what his No. 7 jersey meant to him and others during his career.
“That represents me. It represents my family, it represents everything I’ve gone through, the growth, the maturity, the everything I put into the game of basketball,” he said. “It just represents Kyle Lowry.
“It’s hard work, grit, passion and, of course, a champion.”
