Kyle Lowry’s Toronto exit has become a full-city salute. Mayor Olivia Chow presented the longtime Raptors point guard with the Key to the City on Saturday, adding another landmark honor for the player whose edge, leadership and late-game nerve helped carry the franchise to its first NBA title.
A Toronto honor for the franchise standard
Lowry spent nine of his 20 NBA seasons with the Raptors, turning a hard-nosed, six-foot frame into the engine of the club’s most successful era. He recently signed a one-day ceremonial agreement with Toronto, allowing him to retire officially as a Raptor.
The city’s recognition arrives ahead of an even bigger arena moment: Toronto will lift Lowry’s No. 7 into the Scotiabank Arena rafters on Jan. 10, 2027.
- Lowry will retire as a member of the Raptors after signing a ceremonial one-day contract.
- His No. 7 jersey is scheduled to be retired on Jan. 10, 2027.
- He played nine seasons in Toronto during a 20-year NBA career.
- Lowry helped the Raptors win the 2019 NBA championship alongside Kawhi Leonard.
The numbers behind the No. 7
Toronto’s record book is packed with Lowry’s work. Across 601 regular-season games for the franchise, he posted averages of 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists. He sits atop the Raptors’ career lists in assists, made 3-pointers and steals, while ranking second in both games played and points.
| Raptors career category | Lowry total |
|---|---|
| Assists | 4,277 |
| 3-pointers made | 1,518 |
| Steals | 873 |
| Games played | 601 |
| Points | 10,540 |
He made six straight All-Star teams, beginning in 2014-15 and continuing through 2019-20, and earned All-NBA Third Team recognition in 2015-16. Those years included his six-season partnership with DeMar DeRozan, a pairing that established Toronto as a regular presence near the top of the Eastern Conference before Lowry later helped finish the championship climb.
The plays Toronto remembers
Lowry’s case as the defining Raptor was never built only on the totals. His game was built on absorbing contact from bigger opponents, beating people to loose balls and taking charges that could swing a possession or wake up an arena. The hustle plays were as central to his Toronto identity as the pull-up 3s and pocket passes.
Chow said Lowry offered the city much more than its biggest basketball nights, praising the heart he brought to Toronto along with his leadership, resolve and generosity. She called him a champion, a proud Torontonian and the greatest player in Raptors history, saying it was an honor to present him with the city’s key.
