Kyle Lowry Retires as a Raptor After 20 Seasons

Sport

By lines

July 8, 2026

Pop-art illustration of a basketball and jersey marking a career retirement

Kyle Lowry is going out on his own terms. The six-time All-Star retired Tuesday after 20 NBA seasons, signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors. He leaves as the face of the only championship in franchise history.

Lowry Closes the Book Where He Made History

Lowry shared the news on social media, then signed the symbolic deal with Toronto. Toronto acquired Lowry by trade in 2012, and the city adopted him fast. He spent the bulk of his 20 seasons wearing Raptors red. That tenure turned a gritty guard into a Canadian institution. No modern Raptor carried the team longer. Lowry now joins a group of only 12 players who reached 20 NBA seasons.

Lowry played 1,187 regular-season games and averaged 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists. His 2,209 made 3-pointers rank 14th in league history. He earned six All-Star selections and made the All-NBA Third Team in 2016. Lowry also finished as Toronto’s all-time leader in assists, steals and 3-pointers. He passed Jose Calderon for the franchise assists record in January 2020. He also stands among the most durable guards of his generation.

That 2019 championship still anchors Lowry’s legacy in Toronto. He closed the Finals with 26 points and 10 assists in the clinching Game 6. The win came on the road against Golden State. Toronto rode that Game 6 to its first title parade ever. The Raptors had never even reached the Finals before that season. Lowry ran the backcourt beside Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard as Toronto toppled a dynasty.

Lowry’s retirement sharpens a legitimate Hall of Fame case. He owns a ring, six All-Star nods and a top-15 mark in career 3-pointers. Voters rarely overlook that blend of winning and durability. Only a handful of point guards paired that longevity with a ring. His resume stacks up with the position’s most respected names.

Lowry’s road ran far beyond Toronto. He broke in with Memphis, grew into a starter in Houston, then chased more rings in Miami. A 2024 trade sent him to Charlotte before a buyout landed him in Philadelphia. That 2024 stop in Charlotte lasted only months. Every stop added a layer to his reputation. He now closes the loop back where it mattered most.

Toronto now builds its future around Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. Lowry steps into life after basketball as a franchise cornerstone turned legend. Expect his number in the Scotiabank Arena rafters before long. For now, a hockey-mad country salutes its basketball hero.