Toronto has spent the past few days saying goodbye to Kyle Lowry, although “goodbye” hardly seems like the right word for a player whose connection to the city is still very much alive.
On Saturday night, a gala event was held as part of a weekend-long celebration of Lowry’s Toronto Raptors career. The private event was a rare opportunity to bring together players and coaches from different eras of the team, including many of Lowry’s teammates who helped make the Raptors’ 2019 championship possible.
Among those photographed at the gala were DeMar DeRozan, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Danny Green, C.J. Miles, Amir Johnson, Terrence Ross, Chuck Hayes and Kevin Love, along with current Raptors Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley, head coach Darko Rajaković and general manager Bobby Webster.
For Toronto basketball fans, the guest list was a trip through the Raptors’ recent history.
DeRozan was Lowry’s longtime backcourt partner during the years when the Raptors established themselves as a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference, and their friendship was one of the highlights. VanVleet and Siakam were part of the championship core. Green and Miles arrived during the 2018-19 season and played important roles on the title-winning team. Anunoby was another member of that championship roster, although he was injured during the playoffs. Barnes represents the generation that followed.
The evening was the final event in a three-part Toronto celebration that began Friday with the KLOW Invitational charity golf tournament and continued Saturday afternoon with Kyle’s Block Party at Maple Leaf Square. A Night For Seven was the more intimate event of the weekend.
Lowry officially retired from the NBA this summer after 20 seasons and signed a one-day contract with Toronto so he could finish his playing career as a Raptor. He spent nine seasons in Toronto after joining the club in 2012, becoming a six-time All-Star and helping lead the franchise to its first NBA championship in 2019. He is the Raptors’ franchise leader in assists, steals and three-point field goals.
Earlier Saturday, thousands of Toronto fans turned out for Kyle’s Block Party at Jurassic Park, where Lowry was presented with the Key to the City by Mayor Olivia Chow. The city recognized his contributions both on the court and in the community, adding another distinctly Toronto chapter to the weekend.
“Kyle Lowry gave Toronto more than unforgettable moments on the court, he gave our city his heart,” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “His leadership, determination and generosity reflect the very best of Toronto. Kyle will always be a champion, a proud Torontonian and the Greatest Raptor of All Time. It is an honour to present him with the Key to the City.”
Photos from the evening event circulated among Raptors fans online, with the collection of familiar faces prompting plenty of nostalgia for the championship run.
To solidify his substantial roots in the city, earlier this summer Lowry and his partner Ayahna Cornish-Lowry joined the ownership group of the city’s WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo.
“We are a huge basketball family and have been big supporters of the WNBA since day one,” said Lowry and Cornish-Lowry. “This feels like a true full circle moment to announce our ownership in the Tempo. We’re excited to help build something special in Toronto, inspire the next generation of athletes and fans, and support the continued growth of women’s basketball in Canada.”
Fans will be happy to learn that even though Lowry is retired, and has long since left the Raptors, he will still have a significant presence in Toronto.
And it leads up to the big day when Lowry’s No. 7 will be raised to the rafters at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 10, 2027, when the Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers, Lowry’s hometown team. He will become the second player in franchise history to have his number retired, following Vince Carter’s No. 15.
Next up for Lowry, an appearance at the Elevate Festival in Toronto this week.