Raptors makes ’milestone team announcement’ as Kyle Lowry says he will retire with Toronto

Kyle Lowry has announced he will officially retire with Raptors.

Photo: Associated Press / Chris Szagola

CBC News with files from The Canadian Press

Kyle Lowry, the small but mighty point guard who helped lead the Raptors to the team's only NBA championship, and spent nine seasons as the heart and soul of the franchise, has announced he will officially retire with Toronto.

Lowry made the announcement in a video posted to his Instagram account Tuesday, saying he will sign a one-day contract to finish his playing career as a Raptor.

Toronto, my home, Lowry said in the six-minute retrospective of his life and 20-year NBA career. Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, Canada.

The Raptors simultaneously posted a photo of Lowry in a Toronto jersey with the words Welcome Home Kyle.

At a Tuesday news conference announcing Lowry's one-day contract, Raptors general manager and executive vice president Bobby Webster called Lowry the greatest Raptor of all time, saying the franchise would retire his No. 7 during the 2026-2027 season.

CBC News is carrying the news conference live above.

Rumours had already been swirling that this announcement was coming.

Lowry, often referred to as Mr. Raptor, had hinted at retiring with the team in a cryptic video posted to his Instagram page Monday. Multiple media reports over the past week from outlets, including SportsNet, have also pointed to his retirement with the team, saying he will do so by signing a ceremonial, one-day contract with the franchise.

Tuesday's news conference date also happens to coincide with Lowry's iconic jersey number when he played with the Raptors as No. 7.

The 40-year-old point guard left the Raptors in 2021 after being traded to the Miami Heat. He played nine seasons for Toronto and helped bring home the team's first NBA championship (new window) in franchise history in 2019.

Lowry has spent his last two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. He had previously said he intended to finish his career with Toronto.

During his time with the Raptors, he averaged out 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds through 601 regular season games.

Lowry's return and retirement comes shortly after the team re-acquired star forward Kawhi Leonard, who played with Lowry on the 2019 championship team before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers as a free agent.