Kyle Lowry signs one-day contract to retire with Toronto Raptors
Six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry has retired from basketball after signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday to end his 20-year NBA career.
The 40-year-old announced his decision on social media, fulfilling a long-held promise to bow out as a member of the Canadian franchise.
Choosing July 7 to confirm the news served as a deliberate nod to the iconic number seven jersey he wore during his transformative nine-year stint up north.
The veteran point guard leaves the sport as one of only 12 players in NBA history to complete two decades in the elite league.
A Canadian basketball icon
Revered by fans as the ‘Greatest Raptor of All-Time’, the Philadelphia native was instrumental in securing the team’s first and only NBA Championship in 2019.
All six of his All-Star appearances came during his prolific tenure in Toronto, cementing his undeniable status as a franchise legend.
“This was home,” the former Villanova standout said in his farewell video. “Home is a feeling. It’s a comfort. It’s a place that you continue wanting to be there.”
He further thanked his family, teammates, and Canadian supporters for embracing him throughout a career that consistently defied early expectations.
An elite statistical legacy
Drafted 24th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2006, the tenacious playmaker also enjoyed successful spells with the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and his hometown Philadelphia 76ers.
He concludes his professional journey with formidable career averages of 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists across 1,187 regular-season appearances.
Furthermore, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist ranks 14th on the NBA’s all-time list for three-pointers, having connected from beyond the arc 2,209 times.
Alongside Chris Paul, he is currently one of just two point guards to reach the 20-season milestone in the Association, standing as a testament to his remarkable durability and elite basketball intelligence.