Kyle Lowry
Kyle Terrell Lowry is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association. A six-time All-Star, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2016 and won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, their first and only title in franchise history. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Raptors players of all time due to his work with turning the franchise around, from the post-Chris Bosh era to their first-ever championship in 2019. As starting point guard, Lowry played an integral role in the Raptors' success from 2012 to 2021. Lowry was also a member of the U.S. national team that won a gold medal in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Lowry played two seasons of college basketball with the Villanova Wildcats before he was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2006 NBA draft with the 24th overall pick. He appeared in three seasons with the Grizzlies before being traded to the Houston Rockets in February 2009. After spending four seasons in Houston, he was traded to Toronto during the 2012 off-season, forming a backcourt duo with DeMar DeRozan. In his second season with the Raptors, he helped them reach the playoffs for the first time in six years and win an Atlantic Division title during the 2013–14 season. In 2015–16, he led the Raptors to a then franchise-record of 56 wins, as well as helping the team make the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time. In 2021, Lowry was traded to the Miami Heat, where he helped the team reach the 2023 NBA Finals. In 2024, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets, before joining the 76ers via a contract buyout.
Early life
Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Lowry is one of two sons of Marie Holloway and Lonnie Lowry Sr. alongside Lonnie Jr., his older brother by 5 years. His father lived 10 minutes away from the family's home, which also included Lowry's cousin, Laquita. Lonnie Sr. became estranged from the family when Kyle was about seven years old, leaving him and his siblings to be raised by his mom as well as his disciplinarian grandmother. Kyle attributes his survival and well-being to Lonnie Jr. for ensuring that he did not follow in the same path as his childhood friends who are no longer alive, including not allowing Kyle to have any tattoos and piercings. His brother was also instrumental in teaching him how to play basketball, playing pickup basketball together against older boys, and learning not to dwell on his estranged father. His brother also searched newspaper ads for AAU basketball tryouts and ensured that Lowry would get there and make their teams.High school career
Lowry attended Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia and played point guard for the school's varsity basketball team.Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was listed as the No. 6 point guard and the No. 28 player in the U.S. in 2004.
College career
In his freshman season at Villanova, Lowry was named to the Big East All-Rookie team and was tabbed Philadelphia Big Five Rookie of the Year. In 24 games, he averaged 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.In his sophomore season, he was named to the All-Big East Second Team, as well as the First Team All-Big 5. In 33 games, he averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
On February 27, 2020, Lowry's jersey #1 was retired by the Villanova Wildcats.
Professional career
Memphis Grizzlies (2006–2009)
Lowry was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 24th overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft. He appeared in 10 games as a rookie before suffering a broken wrist against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 21, 2006. He subsequently underwent season-ending surgery.Lowry returned for the 2007–08 season and appeared in all 82 games for the Grizzlies.
The 2008–09 season saw Lowry and good friend Mike Conley Jr. compete for playing time and the starting point guard position. In January 2009, Lionel Hollins was named the team's head coach and Lowry was told that the team would devote the starter's minutes to Conley. Lowry was unhappy with his role, and some in the organization considered him a bad influence on the roster.
Houston Rockets (2009–2012)
On February 19, 2009, Lowry was traded to the Houston Rockets in a three-team deal involving the Grizzlies and the Orlando Magic. In Houston, Lowry grew to appreciate the tutelage of his new coach, Rick Adelman. With the Rockets making the playoffs in 2009, Lowry played in the post-season for the first time in his career.In 2009–10, Lowry served as the backup point guard to Aaron Brooks. On December 18, 2009, he recorded a career-high 26 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and five steals in a 116–108 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
On June 30, 2010, with his contract expiring, the Rockets extended a qualifying offer, thus making Lowry only a restricted free agent. On July 13, 2010, he signed an offer sheet with the Cleveland Cavaliers worth $23.5 million over four years. The Rockets quickly matched the offer, thus retaining Lowry.
In 2010–11, Lowry started in 71 of the 75 games he played in, and his reputation in the league began to solidify. On December 3, he scored a career-high 28 points and matched his career best with 12 assists in the Rockets' 127–111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. On December 17, in another win over the Grizzlies, Lowry recorded 17 points and a career-high 18 assists. On January 14, he matched his season high with 28 points in a 110–105 overtime loss to the New Orleans Hornets. On February 16, he scored a career-high 36 points in a 114–105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. On March 8, he scored 32 points and made a career-high seven 3-pointers in a 113–110 loss to the Phoenix Suns. On March 20, he recorded his first career triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 110–108 win over the Utah Jazz, becoming only the fourth Rockets player since 2002–03 to record a triple-double. He was subsequently named Western Conference Player of the Week.
Coach Adelman and the Rockets parted ways following the 2010–11 season, and Lowry initially clashed with new head coach Kevin McHale. In the lockout-shortened 66-game 2011–12 season, Lowry appeared in 47 games with 38 starts, missing 16 games over March and April with a bacterial infection that required hospitalization. With Lowry out, backup point guard Goran Dragić played well in his absence, and the Rockets decided they could trade Lowry to improve their salary cap issues and acquire draft picks during the offseason.
Toronto Raptors (2012–2021)
2012–13 season: First year in Toronto
On July 11, 2012, Lowry was traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Gary Forbes and a future first round pick. Lowry averaged over 23 points and seven assists through the first three games of the season, but was injured during the team's fourth game, a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 6, 2012. Upon his return he came off the bench behind José Calderón, but regained the starting position when Calderón was traded in a three-team deal on January 30, 2013, that brought Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay to the Raptors. Despite the trade, which was meant to help the struggling Raptors return to relevance, the team finished the season with a 34–48 record, missing the playoffs.On May 31, 2013, Masai Ujiri was hired as the Raptors' new general manager, replacing Bryan Colangelo. Ujiri believed that Lowry had the potential to be a star, but found that his reputation around the NBA had more to do with his history of clashing with coaches and his body language than his talent. Ujiri challenged Lowry during meetings that off-season to be a better player and leader. "Do you want to be a $3 million player, $2 million player for the rest of your career", Ujiri remembers asking Lowry, "...or do you want to be a $10 million player or more?" Lowry also received mentorship from Chauncey Billups, who Lowry remembers "pushed me mentally to challenge myself." Receptive to the advice he had received from Ujiri and others, Lowry looked forward to the upcoming season, entering training camp healthy for the first time in several seasons.
2013–14 season: Individual and team improvement
The Raptors started the 2013–14 season with a 6–12 record, until Gay, the team's leading scorer, was traded to the Sacramento Kings. Following the trade, Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan approached Lowry and the two decided to take ownership of the team, knowing they could both be traded if the team's management decided to rebuild rather than compete for a playoff spot. Lowry's name was linked to several teams, most frequently the New York Knicks, in trade rumors, but the Knicks were reportedly unwilling to send a first-round pick to Toronto in exchange for Lowry. The post-Gay Raptors quickly emerged as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and many cited Lowry's strong play and leadership as a significant factor in their success. The team finished the season with a franchise-best 48–34 record, third in the Eastern Conference and first in the Atlantic Division for the second time in franchise history. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2008, but lost in the first round to the Brooklyn Nets after Lowry's potential game-winning shot was blocked by Paul Pierce in Game 7. Despite the disappointing end to the season, Lowry averaged a career-best 17.9 points, 7.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds during the regular season and 21.1 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.7 rebounds during the playoffs.Lowry entered the off-season as one of the NBA's most coveted free agents, attracting interest from the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and other teams. On July 10, 2014, he re-signed with the Raptors to a four-year, $48 million contract.
2014–15 season: First All-Star selection
The Raptors and Lowry continued their strong play into the next season, and the team once again emerged as a top seed in the Eastern Conference. On November 7, 2014, Lowry became the team's all-time leader for triple-doubles with a 13-point, 10 assist, and 11 rebound performance in a win against the Washington Wizards. It was Lowry's sixth career triple-double and his fourth as a Raptor, passing Damon Stoudamire, who had the previous franchise record of three. On December 3, he scored a career-high 39 points on 13-of-22 shooting in a win against the Utah Jazz. On January 5, 2015, Lowry was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December 2014, making him only the second Raptor, after Chris Bosh, to receive this recognition. Lowry averaged 22.3 points, 8.9 assists, and 4.2 rebounds during the month, winning Player of the Week during the first week and helping lead the Raptors to an 11–4 record. On January 22, 2015, Lowry became a first-time All-Star when he was announced as an Eastern Conference starter in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. He became only the third Raptor to be voted in as a starter, after Vince Carter and Bosh. On February 5, 2015, the NBA announced that Lowry would also participate in the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge as part of the NBA All-Star Weekend. Lowry finished the All-Star game with 10 points, a team-high eight assists, three rebounds and four steals in a loss to the West, completing his first in-game dunk since 2009.On March 16, 2015, Lowry recorded his seventh career triple-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 117–98 win over the Indiana Pacers. The Raptors finished the 2014–15 season with a franchise-best 49–33 record, fourth in the East and first in the Atlantic, but were swept in the first round by the Washington Wizards, despite entering the series with homecourt advantage. Lowry averaged 17.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 70 games during the regular season, but a disappointing 12.3 points, as well as 4.8 assists, and 5.5 rebounds, in the playoffs, with many questioning his health during the series.