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Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry has been getting glossed over as a potential All-Star candidate. Recently, TNT’s Inside The NBA panel, comprised of former players like Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal — all omitted Lowry on their would-be list of All-Star reserves.
Two of them had Derrick Rose in it and Lowry off it.
“I did see that. I was on one ballot. Whatever,” said Lowry, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. “They don’t watch us as much, I think.”
The Raptors have faced issues with viewership for many years, and naturally, they were not included in the NBA's list of teams to watch for after Kawhi Leonard bolted for Los Angeles.
While the rise of Pascal Siakam has been national news in Canada and crossed over to the States at times — the noise surrounding the second-seeded Raptors hasn't been loud enough for TNT's national panel.
“Pretty much. But I get it done at the end of the day,” said Lowry, speaking about the low recognition he's gotten in Toronto. “I think the coaches understand what I do for my organization and my team. I got in a couple years as a starter. I don’t know. I don’t know. Whoever writes their ballots out, they all have their opinions. I’m sure they look at what people are doing numbers-wise.”
So what exactly gets lost in the shuffle?
“The wins and how I do it and how I bring value to my team,” said Lowry.
The Raptors had their share of injury issues when Norman Powell, Marc Gasol, and Siakam all went down the same week, forcing Lowry to carry the torch and keep the team afloat.
That is a large reason as to why Toronto has been able to hang on and recently push upward to the second seed, now that they're healthier than they were in December.
