‘Toronto, my home’: Kyle Lowry signs 1-day contract to retire as a Raptor

Kyle Lowry — the heartbeat of the Toronto Raptors’ championship core and widely regarded as the greatest player in franchise history — officially retired as a Raptor on Tuesday.

Lowry was joined by general manager and executive vice-president Bobby Webster at a press conference on Tuesday morning, where the 40-year-old signed a one-day contract with the basketball team.

“This is a special moment for me. Words can’t really describe it,” Lowry said at the presser. “Everything about the City of Toronto, the country of Canada. It’s done special wonders for me.”

Mayor Olivia Chow issued a statement on Tuesday, announcing July 7 as “Kyle Lowry Day” in the city.

The press conference comes after two emotional video tributes shared on the team’s social channels that celebrate Lowry’s legacy as the defining figure of the Raptors’ modern era.

“Home is a feeling. It’s a comfort. It’s a place you continue wanting to be there,” Lowry says in the video. “Over and over again.”

Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reported earlier in July that the announcement would be Lowry’s retirement. Lowry’s No. 7 is likely to be retired at Scotiabank Arena during the upcoming season, and the press conference fittingly was held on 7/7.

Lowry has long said he would sign a one-day contract to retire with the Raptors when the time comes.

“It’s a place you feel like you just belong,” Lowry says in that same video. “And don’t forget, it’s the people that make it feel like home, too.”

The fan favourite goes on to mention several former Raptors players, coaches and executives in Tuesday’s video tribute, notably Jonas Valanciunas, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, Nick Nurse, Dwane Casey, Masai Ujiri and, of course, DeMar DeRozan.

“Y’all already knew that was coming,” Lowry says of his friend DeRozan. “And if I didn’t mention you, my bad. I’m getting old. I’m 40 now, y’all.”

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Lowry, the Greatest Raptor of All Time (GROAT)

Lowry, 40, acquired from the Houston Rockets nearly 14 years ago to the day, spent nine seasons in Toronto, transforming the Raptors from a middling team into a perennial playoff contender and ultimately an NBA champion.

His gritty style, leadership, propensity for drawing charges and ability to elevate teammates made him the face of the franchise long before the 2019 title run cemented his place in Raptors history.

“I think I had a hell of a career,” Lowry noted at Tuesday’s press conference. “I will be home and see my kids grow… that’s the most important thing. Be home and be dad.”

The Philadelphia native retires as the Raptors’ franchise leader in assists, three-pointers made, steals and triple-doubles, and ranks among the top in nearly every major statistical category.

The Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers have also reportedly agreed to a blockbuster deal to bring two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and multiple draft picks, with the transaction expected to be finalized sometime this week.

Leonard, it should be noted, was in attendance to honour Lowry on Tuesday. Lowry was part of the 2019 championship team with Leonard. He spent nine of his 20 NBA seasons with Toronto, making all six of his All-Star Game appearances as a Raptor.

“We knew what we were playing for. We were playing for the City of Toronto, and the country of Canada,” Lowry said on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old played for his hometown Philadelphia 76ers for the past three seasons. Other stops included three seasons in Miami, four seasons in Houston, and three seasons with Memphis, which drafted Lowry 24th overall in 2006.

“Toronto, my home. Thank you,” Lowry says. “Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, Canada. And as I always told y’all, it’s officially happening. I am retiring as a Toronto Raptor. Twenty years and one day. Seven forever. I love y’all. Peace.”

Lowry won’t be still for long, it seems. The Toronto Tempo announced on Tuesday that Lowry and entrepreneur and philanthropist Ayahna Cornish-Lowry have joined the Women’s National Basketball Association team’s ownership group.

With files from Sportsnet staff