The Toronto Raptors announced that they are going to retire Kyle Lowry’s No. 7 jersey on January 10, 2027, elevating it to the rafters at Scotiabank Enviornment following their recreation towards the Philadelphia 76ers.
Lowry will develop into the second participant in Raptors historical past to have his quantity retired, becoming a member of Vince Carter, whose No. 15 was honored on November 2, 2024. The ceremony will acknowledge the participant who grew to become the central determine of probably the most profitable interval in Toronto franchise historical past and helped ship its first NBA championship in 2019.
“I’ve been trying ahead to this second for years,” Lowry stated within the Raptors’ announcement. “I all the time stated that Toronto is residence, and that I’d retire a Raptor, and to see my No. 7 go up in that constructing goes to imply every thing to me.”
Lowry spent 9 seasons with the Raptors from 2012 by way of 2021, main the franchise to seven playoff appearances, two Japanese Convention Finals and the 2019 championship. Toronto acquired him from the Houston Rockets in July 2012, and he developed right into a six-time NBA All-Star throughout his tenure with the franchise.
His particular person manufacturing in Toronto additionally positioned him atop a number of main franchise leaderboards. Lowry stays the Raptors’ all-time chief in assists, steals and three-point subject objectives made.
The Philadelphia native reached his statistical peak throughout Toronto’s rise into an Japanese Convention contender. He averaged 21.2 factors and 6.4 assists in 2015-16, incomes All-NBA Third Crew honors, then posted 22.4 factors and seven.0 assists per recreation in 2016-17 whereas capturing 41.2% from three-point vary.
Lowry’s most important achievement got here through the 2018-19 season. He averaged 14.2 factors and eight.7 assists in 65 regular-season video games earlier than serving to Toronto win the primary championship in franchise historical past.
The Raptors’ championship run included Lowry averaging 15.0 factors, 6.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds over 24 playoff video games. Within the title-clinching Sport 6 towards Golden State, he opened the sport with 15 first-quarter factors and completed with 26 factors, 10 assists and 7 rebounds in Toronto’s 114-110 victory.
Lowry remained with the Raptors for 2 extra seasons earlier than becoming a member of the Miami Warmth in 2021. His NBA profession later took him again to his hometown Philadelphia, the place he performed the ultimate three seasons of his 20-year profession with the 76ers.
Toronto will prolong the celebration past the retirement ceremony with three GROAT Nights. The occasions start January 7 towards the Minnesota Timberwolves and proceed January 8 towards the Utah Jazz earlier than culminating with the January 10 recreation towards Philadelphia, when Lowry, his household, former teammates and the Raptors group will collect for the jersey retirement.
Lowry averaged 13.8 factors, 6.0 assists and 4.2 rebounds throughout 1,187 regular-season video games throughout his 20 NBA seasons. However his strongest legacy is tied to Toronto, the place No. 7 will quickly dangle alongside the championship banner he helped convey to town.
