On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Kyle Lowry announced on social media that he was retiring, signing a symbolic one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors. So the legendary point guard is bowing out with the franchise where it all began, and where he won everything that mattered.
Thank you, Kyle. @Klow7 officially announces he will retire as a Toronto Raptor! 🇨🇦❤️ pic.twitter.com/yODcD1xZk7
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) July 7, 2026
The image is perfect. Just as he had promised for years, he never wanted to hang it up anywhere else. It does not matter that his last official game came in Philadelphia 76ers colours; there was only one jersey that could give his retirement real meaning. The Raptors one. He wore it for almost nine years, became a six-time All-Star, and, crucially, lifted the NBA crown in 2019.
Try it for $0.99.
More than a champion, the face of a franchise
When Lowry arrived in Toronto in 2012, the franchise was still trying to find its place in the NBA pecking order. By the time he leaves for good, he has helped turn it into a different organisation. In between came nine seasons, six All-Star selections, an NBA title in 2019, and an identity built in his image.
Kyle Lowry was never the league’s flashiest player. He was not the one piling up highlight reels or pulling off impossible tricks. But few players have embodied sacrifice, toughness and a will to win quite like he did. Taking a charge, diving on loose balls, battling bigger men in the paint — that was all part of his DNA. Every possession felt like a personal war.
That is exactly what he talks about in his moving farewell video:
#7 FOREVER pic.twitter.com/4Cxpr5jSO6
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) July 7, 2026
[bet365_cta]
The GROAT goes into the record books for good
Raptors fans gave him a nickname years ago: the GROAT, short for “Greatest Raptor of All Time”. Not a bad label when you think of the names that have passed through the franchise. On Tuesday, Toronto made it clear that place is now set in stone.
His No. 7 will be raised to the rafters in the coming months, never to be worn again. The franchise is also planning a series of tributes throughout the season to honour the man who was the main driving force behind the first NBA title in its history.
BREAKING: The Toronto Raptors announce No. 7 will be retired next season for Kyle Lowry. 🚨
He’ll join Vince Carter as the only players to have their jerseys retired by the franchise. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/TR9Rp8zmuv
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) July 7, 2026
The city itself joined in the celebrations, with Toronto’s mayor declaring July 7 “Kyle Lowry Day”. A reminder that his influence stretched far beyond the hardwood. Born in Philadelphia and an Olympic champion with the United States, Lowry still became a Canadian icon.
The final chapter is already opening the next one
At 40, Lowry did not wait for retirement to line up what comes next. He is an analyst for Prime Video and now co-owner of the Toronto Tempo WNBA franchise with his wife, Ayahna Cornish-Lowry, so life after playing is already under way, even if he is not really leaving basketball behind.
But when it came time to say goodbye, he did not want to talk about TV or business. He talked about family. About his children, whom he joked he would now be ferrying around like a private driver. It fits, really. Behind the fierce competitor has always been a man who puts his own first.
Kyle Lowry :
“I can go home and be a father !”
📸 @JustEsBaraheni pic.twitter.com/F8BPHsWEZq
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) July 7, 2026
Every great player dreams of picking the moment to walk away. Very few actually get to do it. Kyle Lowry did, and he did it exactly the way he wanted: in a Raptors jersey, with a whole country applauding and the knowledge that he has left a permanent mark on basketball in Toronto.
Credits: Photo by VAUGHN RIDLEY / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply