After years of torment and postseason woes as a member of the Toronto Raptors, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry finally captured that elusive championship last season.

Despite having a long summer to contemplate the achievement, Lowry told Michael Grange of Sportsnet that the feeling of being a champion will not fully sink in until the banner is raised in Scotiabank Arena on opening night:

Lowry brought the trophy back to north Philadelphia, to the rec centre courts where his bulldog mentality took shape. But the enormity of his journey to the peak of basketball still hasn’t been fully realized.

Maybe on opening night when the banner goes up and the championship rings are handed out?

Maybe.

“I think that’s when it’s going to finally hit me,” said Lowry. “I haven’t really let it sink in too much. I think when the banner rises, that’s really when you really feel it.”

Lowry played multiple seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets before arriving in Toronto via trade prior to the 2012-13 season.

The former Villanova product found a home up North. He made his first All-Star team in his third season with the Raptors, forming a dynamic duo with backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan to help lead the team into an unprecedented era of winning. However, the Raptors were continuously bounced in the playoffs by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Raptors made the controversial decision to send DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard last season, but that move would eventually propel Toronto to its first championship.

Lowry should certainly take some time to appreciate all he has done for the city. He has an argument as the best player in franchise history, having made five All-Star teams while also having the most Win Shares in Raptors history.