Kyle Lowry is undoubtedly a legend of the Toronto Raptors, and that status is poised to be officially acknowledged soon. The franchise, through the player himself, has announced that the number 7 worn by the point guard will be retired and hoisted into the arena as a tribute to his career, making him only the second player, after Vince Carter, to receive such a honor from the Canadian organization.
The ceremony will take place on January 10, the night the Raptors host the Philadelphia 76ers, the last team for which Lowry played. In fact, the 76ers’ latest visit was already a very special night, as it allowed Kyle to log his final minutes and receive his final ovation at Scotiabank Arena, which will now welcome him again as a former player to recognize once more all he accomplished for the franchise.
Three nights one legacy. 7️⃣
The GROAT’s got something special planned for y’all 👀
Lock in your seats for all three → https://t.co/AxuD3FDN6d pic.twitter.com/zgbmxyFfxX— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) August 27, 2026
That, however, will not be the only day honoring the guard, whom the franchise does not hesitate to call the greatest Raptor of all time. In the two games preceding the 76ers matchup—against Minnesota on January 7 and against Utah on January 8—there will also be special events dedicated to Lowry, and fans will be treated to shirts and special figurines of Lowry to add even more weight to his stature.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for years,” the guard stated in a press release. “I’ve always said that Toronto is my home, and seeing my number 7 hanging in the arena is going to be something huge. We built something very special here, both with my teammates and the organization as well as the fans in this city and across Canada. Together we became champions, and sharing this night with all of them and with my family means a lot to me.”
Years of Achievements
Kyle Lowry’s arrival was a catalyst for a dramatic transformation in Raptors history, which up to 2013 had only a handful of playoff appearances and had won just one series. However, starting with the guard’s second season, they reached the postseason in seven consecutive years, in 2016 they made their first Conference Finals, and a few years later they concluded this glorious chapter with a ring that would not have arrived without him.
Throughout that journey, Kyle accumulated accolades, becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in most three-pointers, assists, steals, and triple-doubles, and the second player in games played, points, and many other statistical categories. All of this while showcasing his tireless energy and enormous sacrifice to push the team as far as possible. And a deep love for the city that led him to sign a one-day contract so he could retire officially as a Toronto player.
DeRozan was the young talent drafted and watched grow by a city that believed in a project growing year after year. Kawhi was the superstar who helped them take the leap and carried them to the championship. Yet Lowry, who also developed with the Raptors from a promising guard to an All-NBA figure and a five-time All-Star and who was indispensable in those unforgettable 2019 playoffs, embodies the two kinds of affection fans feel for the other two icons.
And for that reason, it is no surprise that the franchise itself refers to him as the greatest player in its history.
