Summary
When the Toronto Raptors acquired Kyle Lowry from Houston in the summer of 2012, the deal did not look like a franchise-defining move. The Canadian team had been stuck in a prolonged decline since Chris Bosh’s departure, while Lowry arrived...
Table of contents
When the Toronto Raptors acquired Kyle Lowry from Houston in the summer of 2012, the deal did not look like a franchise-defining move. The Canadian team had been stuck in a prolonged decline since Chris Bosh’s departure, while Lowry arrived with a reputation as an injury-prone point guard with a difficult personality. 1xBet Singapore tells the story of how everything changed.
Rocky start
At the time, Lowry was 26 years old and had already played six seasons in the NBA. Issues with coaches had dogged Kyle since his NCAA days, and later during his stints in Memphis and Houston. Few could have predicted that this short, stocky point guard would rewrite the Canadian franchise’s history and become its symbol. His first season in Toronto seemed to confirm the skeptics’ doubts: Lowry was a backup to Spaniard José Calderón, struggled with injuries, and made no secret of his desire to leave the team when his contract expired.
How things changed
The turning point came midway through Lowry’s second season in Toronto. The Raptors’ front office decided it was time for a rebuild: the team traded star forward Rudy Gay and planned to do the same with Lowry. However, a deal with the Knicks fell through, while Kyle showed that he was ready to fight for his place on the roster and make a breakthrough in his career.
Alongside DeMar DeRozan, he formed one of the league’s best backcourt duos. Lowry’s performance was never built on athleticism – he became a star through toughness, a deep understanding of the game, and a willingness to sacrifice. For example, he regularly put his body in the way of attacking opponents to draw offensive fouls – the so-called “charges”. For many years, Lowry was among the NBA’s leaders in charges drawn.
How Lowry led the team to a championship
By the mid-2010s, the Canadians had become regular playoff contenders. Starting in 2015, Lowry made six All-Star appearances in a row, and in 2016, Kyle became an Olympic champion. Still, in the postseason, the team did not perform at the same level as it did during the regular season. The most painful setbacks were three consecutive playoff eliminations by LeBron James’ Cleveland between 2016 and 2018, leading to the nickname “LeBronto”.
The moment of truth came in the summer of 2018. General manager Masai Ujiri parted ways with head coach Dwane Casey and traded DeMar DeRozan, Kyle’s close friend. Casey had previously been named Coach of the Year, while his replacement, Nick Nurse, had never been an NBA head coach before. Kawhi Leonard arrived in DeRozan’s place, making no secret of his intention to leave Canada when his contract expired in 2019.
Lowry did not hide his disappointment, but eventually put his frustrations aside and became the ideal partner for Kawhi. In the 2019 playoffs, he finally silenced his critics for good. He averaged 15 points per game, fewer than usual, but stepped up at the most crucial moments. For example, in Game 6 of the Finals against Golden State, he scored the first 11 points. Leonard won the Finals MVP award, but Lowry was the heart and soul of that championship team.
His place in history
Kawhi left, and the Raptors failed to repeat their championship run. In 2021, Lowry also departed Toronto, joining the Miami Heat via trade. He reached the NBA Finals again with Miami in 2023, but fell short of a second championship. Nevertheless, every time he returned to Toronto, first as a Miami player and later as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, he was greeted with standing ovations.
In Canada, Lowry is more than just a former player. He is the man who made Raptors fans proud. In July 2026, Kyle signed a symbolic one-day contract with Toronto, allowing him to officially finish his playing career with the franchise that defined it. Then, in September 2026, Toronto mayor Olivia Chow presented the legend with a symbolic key to the city at a special ceremony.
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