The Philadelphia 76ers were able to get back in the win column on Monday evening, taking down the Toronto Raptors 115-102 just 24 hours after dropping an overtime game to the same opponent.
One of the best
moments of the game, however, wasn’t really about the game itself at all. With a comfortable double-digit lead for the Sixers and time winding down, the opportunity arose for a very special moment for one player: Kyle Lowry.
As the fourth wound down, the crowd in Toronto had been growing louder and louder chanting to see former-Raptor Lowry take the floor. With 1:57 remaining, they got their wish. The Raptors and Sixers both subbed out the remainder of their starters, and Lowry’s shoulder was tapped to go into the game.
The reception was what one can only imagine a player dreams of. The crowd rose to their feet for a loud, long standing ovation, with fans cheering and recording what will likely be the 20-season NBA veteran’s last time stepping on the court at Scotiabank Arena — a place Lowry will always be a hero.
“I had Trendon Watford next to me sitting on the bench and he was like ‘Come on Kyle, you gotta go in! Go in! Give them what they’re waiting for,’ and it’s cool to have teammates like that. And to listen to the fans, and that’s why I always say these are the greatest fans in the world to me,” Lowry said postgame. “They’ve been supportive of me in my career, and a lot of the things I accomplished in my career was in front of these fans, and that’s why this place is so special to me.”
Lowry spent nine seasons in Toronto, earning All-Star nods in five of those. In 2019, however, is when he cemented himself into hero status for the city. After starting 65 games and notching 20 double-doubles in the regular season, Lowry was one of the Raptors leaders to help take the team throughout the playoffs to their first NBA Finals appearance and their first NBA Championship. In Game 6 of the Finals, Lowry recorded 26 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds in the 114–110 title-clinching win over the Golden State Warriors. Nick Nurse was coach of the Raptors at that time as well.
Immediately following the game going final, NBC Sports Philadelphia had Tyrese Maxey on the headset. Maxey had led the Sixers with 33 points on 10-for-16 field goal shooting (6-for-9 from long range) in a stellar performance. In the fourth quarter, he was out on the floor as the crowd grew louder and louder, for what felt like the entire period, demanding to see Lowry. Sixers play-by-play commentator Kate Scott asked him about experiencing that entire moment for his teammate.
“He deserve every bit of that love, every bit of it. He brought this franchise a title, but what he did for this franchise was bigger than just bringing a title though. The culture, they still play with that same culture, that toughness. I’m just happy for him. I told him ‘I’m about to start crying,’” Maxey said.
Maxey was visibly a bit more toned down than usual in this postgame interview, and even seemed to get a bit emotional at times talking about Lowry’s presence in his career and his life.
“He’s helped me so much, man. We talk at least five times a day. As soon as he got here, he just told me ‘listen man, I’m here for you. Whatever you need me to do, whatever you need from me, I’m here for you every single day’ and he’s been that way man. Every single day. No matter when. It’s not just basketball, it’s life, my family, his family. It’s gonna be that way forever. That’s just real love and I appreciate him.”
When asked about that relationship in his postgame interview, Lowry had to set the second straight though when a reporter phrased it as “you call Tyrese three or four times a day”.
“Wait, whoa whoa whoa whoa, I don’t call him all the time. We have a mutual conversation. It’s two and two,” Lowry said with a chuckle.
“I just think it’s a real relationship of like big brother little brother,” he continued. “Watching games, seeing things in life, talking about life, talking about basketball, joking. It’s a relationship that will continue to blossom throughout the rest of this season and the rest of his career, the rest of my life. I don’t just look at him as like my teammate. I look at him as family and like a little brother.”
For now, the 39-year-old Lowry will continue as a veteran leader for Maxey and the other Sixers in this his 20th NBA season.
Lowry has said before (and reiterated to reporters after the game on Monday night) that he fully intends to sign a one-day contract to get to retire as a Raptor when that day finally comes.
One can only imagine the retirement of the No. 7 in Toronto won’t take too long after that.
