Kyle Lowry is set to retire as a Toronto Raptor, bringing an end to one of the most important player-team partnerships in franchise history. The long-promised goodbye will formally connect his NBA exit to the organization where he became a defining figure.
Lowry had pledged after his trade to the Miami Heat before the 2021-22 season that he would return for a one-day contract and retire in Toronto. That promise now appears close to becoming official after 20 NBA seasons, with Lowry heading back to his basketball home to close out his career.
Toronto’s defining era
Lowry spent nine seasons with the Raptors from 2012-13 to 2020-21 and helped shape the most successful stretch the team has ever had. He remains the franchise leader in assists, steals, three-pointers made, playoff games won and floor burns earned.
| Lowry With the Raptors | Details |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 9 |
| Run With Team | 2012-13 to 2020-21 |
| Franchise Records | Assists, steals, three-pointers made, playoff games won, floor burns earned |
| Signature Achievement | Led Toronto to the 2019 NBA title |
His impact also extends beyond Toronto’s title run. Lowry won Olympic gold with Team USA in 2016 and later finished the last two-and-a-half seasons of his career in his hometown of Philadelphia.
Tuesday’s event will lead the next step
According to www.sportsnet.ca, the Raptors have planned an event and press conference for Tuesday, July 7, billed to invitees as a “monumental moment” in franchise history. The timing also fits Lowry’s No. 7 jersey and his long association with the number.
The Tuesday event is expected to be the opening stage for more recognition as the 2026-27 season unfolds. A jersey retirement at Scotiabank Arena is also likely during the regular season, where Lowry’s No. 7 would join Vince Carter’s No. 15 as the only Raptors jerseys hanging in the building.
That looming honor would place Lowry alongside another iconic name in team history, while reinforcing his standing as the GROAT, or Greatest Raptor of All-Time. For Toronto, the farewell is more than a ceremony, because it marks the formal return of the player most closely linked to the franchise’s rise.
