Before Wednesday’s home game against the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors coach Darko Rajakovi praised Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry.
Kyle Lowry appears to have left the Toronto Raptors a long time ago.
In reality, it’s only been three seasons. The time has simply felt long because Toronto has been attempting to fill the Lowry-shaped hole ever since.
The franchise has never truly replaced him in many ways. They can’t in more ways than one.
“I mean, he’s an amazing player,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovi said of Lowry before his return to Toronto on Wednesday night. “He did incredible things in Toronto.” He did incredible things in league and was also a member of a championship-winning team.”
Since the sign-and-trade that brought Lowry to the Heat, Toronto has played Miami five times. The Raptors lost the first two games before winning three straight, and they hope to make it four in a row on Wednesday against a battered Heat lineup.
Lowry, now 37 years old, isn’t the player he once was. However, when comparing this season’s numbers to career averages, he’s not far off. A large part of that can be attributed to something Lowry will never lose: his unwavering work ethic.
“I have a lot of respect for guys like that,” said Rajakovi of Lowry. “They just find the motivation every single day to come to work, practice or game, and bring their best and I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
This season, the six-time NBA All-Star has started every game he’s played, averaging 9.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in just over 29 minutes. He’s also shooting above 44% from beyond the arc, which is a rarity in Toronto these days.
In retrospect, it was understandable to be disappointed when Lowry left Toronto in 2021 after the team’s strange season in Tampa. However, the logic underlying a Lowry sign-and-trade made sense at the time. With Lowry’s replacement, Fred VanVleet, ready to lead the Raptors into a new era, Toronto was looking to turn the page and pivot toward a younger core.
It’s the manner in which it occurred and the subsequent outcome that has left something to be desired. The return in the deal, Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic, seemed insignificant for a player who was two years removed from a championship and a year away from a six-year run as an NBA All-Star. Not to mention the emotional toll of losing a star player, let alone seeing Lowry wear the jersey of a conference rival.
Lowry called Toronto home for nine seasons while confidently running the point. He’s on track to become a future basketball hall of famer and will undoubtedly be remembered in Raptors lore for the rest of his life.
“Obviously, his legacy is significant,” Rajakovi said. “He’s still the guy that plays extremely hard and extremely competitive.”
Leave a Reply