When the Philadelphia 76ers pay a visit to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, it will not just be a regular-season game in March. It is an important place in the careers of both Kyle Lowry and coach Nick Nurse.
It will not be the first time both make an appearance in Toronto, but it means a lot for the men who led the Raptors to their only championship in franchise history in 2019.
Lowry spent nine seasons in Toronto, during which he was named an All-Star six times. He is the franchise leader in assists and steals while ranking second in points. For the North Philly native, the city of Toronto and the Raptors franchise means something different to Lowry.
“It’s home,” Lowry told reporters following a tough loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It’s home. It’s a place I love. It’s a place I hope to sign a one-day contract to retire with. I’ve said it plenty of times. I’ll say it again. It’s a place that I appreciate a lot. I built my career there and kind of kept it flourishing from there.”
Who knows when retirement will be for Lowry? The 18-year veteran has had some nice moments since signing with the Sixers, including 23 points in Friday’s loss to the Cavs. There is still a lot that he can give to the game at 38 years old.
However, he has made it clear that when he does decide to hang it up, he wants it to be as a member of the Raptors. It would be the right way to end it for a Hall of Fame career.