Kyle Lowry officially brought his NBA career to a close on Tuesday by signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors, allowing him to retire with the franchise where he enjoyed the greatest success of his 20-year career.
The Raptors announced the move on July 7, a date chosen to honor the No. 7 jersey Lowry wore throughout his time in Toronto.
Lowry becomes just the 12th player in NBA history to complete 20 seasons. During his nine years with the Raptors, he earned all six of his All-Star selections and helped lead the franchise to its first NBA championship in 2019.
“Thank you to my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, my opponents, the staff, the media and especially the fans,” Lowry said.
“It’s all about you. I appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, Canada. And as I always told y’all, it’s officially happening. I’m retiring as a Toronto Raptor, 20 years and 1 day. Seven forever. I love y’all. Peace.”
The veteran point guard averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds during his Raptors career after joining the team in 2012.
He was originally selected 24th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies and also spent time with the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Reflecting on his connection to Toronto, Lowry described the city as much more than just a place he played basketball.
“This was home,” Lowry said. “Home is a feeling. It’s a comfort. It’s a place that you continue wanting to be there. Over and over again. It’s a place where you feel like you just belong.”
Lowry finishes his career with averages of 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while ranking 14th in NBA history with 2,209 made three-pointers.
Kyle Lowry Signs One-Day Deal With Raptors, Retires From NBA https://t.co/q0vWFjmo78
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 7, 2026
