Veteran NBA point guard Kyle Lowry signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors on July 7, 2026, to retire officially as a member of the franchise [1, 2]. Lowry, 40, spent nine seasons with Toronto and won an NBA championship with the team in 2019 [1, 3, 2]. "It's all about you. I appreciate you. Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, Canada," Lowry said during the retirement announcement, confirming, "it's officially happening. I'm retiring as a Toronto Raptor" [1].
Over his 20-season NBA career, Lowry played in 1,187 regular season games, averaging 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. He made 2,209 three-pointers, ranking 14th in NBA history [2]. Drafted 24th overall in 2006 by the Memphis Grizzlies, Lowry is one of only two NBA point guards to play 20 seasons [2]. Besides the Raptors, he had stints with Memphis, Houston, Miami, and Philadelphia [1, 2].
During his time with Toronto, Lowry was a six-time NBA All-Star and became a cornerstone of the franchise. Raptors president Bobby Webster said, "In many ways, I think of the franchise before Kyle and sort of after Kyle's arrival" [3]. Former Raptors player Alvin Williams noted that Lowry helped elevate the team’s profile in Canada, saying, "People thought they could use Canada and the Toronto Raptors as some way to elevate their game" [3].
Toronto announced plans to retire Lowry’s No. 7 jersey next season. The team will hold events including a charity golf tournament, block party, and gala in his honor, scheduled for July or September 2026 [3]. Meanwhile, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow declared July 7, 2026, "Kyle Lowry Day" to recognize his contributions to the franchise [3].
Off the court, Lowry and his wife joined the ownership group of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo to support women’s basketball growth in Canada [1]. Lowry said he will continue working in basketball as a television analyst with Prime Video after retirement [2].
