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Kyle Lowry's legacy will forever be tied with Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors, for all the good reasons. The star point guard helped usher in the most successful era of basketball in the franchise's history. It all culminated with the team's first-ever championship back in 2019, with Lowry playing a crucial part in that game.
It's no surprise, then, that Kyle Lowry got a major tribute for him in his return to Toronto for the first time since going to the Miami Heat. The team put together an awesome video tribute for him, detailing everything that defined his stay with the team (including his iconic charges). Ujiri himself chimed in on the video, calling Lowry the greatest Raptor of all-time.
“Is Kyle the greatest Raptor that ever played the game here? Yes, he is.”
From Canada to Klow. #WeTheNorth@Klow7 pic.twitter.com/s0icnqCfUB
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 3, 2022
Lowry's tenure with the Raptors started back in 2012, when he acquired by the team in a mid-season trade from the Memphis Grizzlies. Back then, Lowry was just your average point guard. He had talent, but never seemed to have a team that was willing to give him a shot to showcase his wares. He was able to grab that opportunity, and he ran a mile with it.
Alongside DeMar DeRozan, Lowry helped the Raptors slowly climb back up to relevance. After years of languishing in the basement, the team suddenly became a perennial playoff contender. However, time and time again, Lowry and the team would fall short, often losing to LeBron James and the Cavs back then.
In 2019, after yet another loss to the Cavaliers, Ujiri and the Raptors were at a major crossroads. They knew the team had to get better, but any meaningful change would require breaking apart the Lowry-DeRozan duo. In the end, Ujiri effectively chose Lowry, as he sent DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for superstar forward Kawhi Leonard.
The rest, as they say, is history. Lowry repaid Ujiri's trust in him by becoming the perfect second fiddle to the newly-acquired Leonard. He also took on more of a leadership role, becoming the team's mentor and on-court coach. It all came together in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, where a classic Kyle Lowry game secured the Raptors' first NBA title in franchise history.
During the last off-season, Lowry requested to move on from the Raptors. The team was in a rebuilding phase, and Lowry didn't fit their timeline. In addition, the star point guard knew he still had what it takes to help a team win a ring. Ujiri honored his request, eventually sending him to an Eastern Conference rival in the Miami Heat.
Now, the Raptors are entering a new phase. Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, two of Lowry's former proteges, are now the leaders of the team. Rookie Scottie Barnes has been a revelation for them, as well as OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., and Precious Achiuwa. It's a completely different team than the 2019 championship squad, but the traces of Lowry's influence can still be seen in these guys when they play: hard-nosed defense and a willingness to do anything to get the win.
Lowry would exact his “revenge” against the Raptors in his first game back in the Scotiabank Arena, leading the Heat to a big win. It was a perfect Lowry-esque game, the kind that endeared him to the fanbase in the first place. His return to where it all started couldn't have been any more perfect.
