Raptors Legend's Farewell
Kyle Lowry Signs One-Day Deal, Retires as Raptor with No. 7 Jersey Ceremony Planned
Key Points
Lowry is the Raptors' all-time leader in assists (4,227), three-pointers made (1,518) and steals (873), underscoring his role as the franchise's record-holder in key categories.
The team is framing the retirement as a major moment, with a planned July 7 press conference described as a 'monumental moment' in Raptors history as Lowry signs a one-day deal.
The plan calls for retiring Lowry's No. 7 jersey in the 2026-27 season, making him and Vince Carter the only Raptors players to have numbers hanging from Scotiabank Arena rafters.
Lowry has been associated with the GROAT moniker—Greatest Raptor Of All Time—as part of his lasting legacy in Toronto, a tag the team and fans continue to embrace.
Kyle Lowry is retiring after 20 NBA seasons, signing a one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors to end his career where it mattered most. CP24 reported that the Raptors will also retire his No. 7 jersey, making Lowry just the second player in franchise history — alongside Vince Carter — to have a number hanging from the Scotiabank Arena rafters.
A press conference was held on July 7th to mark the moment. Clutch Points described Lowry as "the face of the organization's most successful era," a six-time All-Star and NBA champion who spent nine of his 20 seasons in Toronto.
Lowry Signs One-Day Deal to Close Career as Raptor
The Raptors planned a special ceremony around the signing, framing it as a monumental moment in team history. Roundtable reported that Lowry, now 40, will formally end his playing career as a member of Toronto — the franchise that defined him. The one-day contract is largely symbolic, but it carries real weight for a city that watched him build something lasting.
BBall Rumors noted that the July 7th event doubled as a broader team announcement tied to the upcoming season. Lowry's retirement had been reported earlier by Sportsnet's Michael Grange, but the star pushed back at first. Yahoo Sports reported that Lowry "chafed" at the leak, saying fans should "wait for the word to come from me."
The Numbers That Make Lowry the GROAT
Lowry leaves as the Raptors' all-time leader in three key categories. He recorded 4,227 assists, 1,518 three-pointers made, and 873 steals across his time in Toronto. No other Raptor comes close in any of those columns.
Fans and the team have long called him the GROAT — Greatest Raptor Of All Time. The tag fits. Lowry was the engine behind Toronto's run to the 2019 NBA title, their only championship. He earned six All-Star selections during his career and pushed the franchise from irrelevance to a title contender.
Jersey Retirement Set for the 2026-27 Season
The No. 7 will go up to the rafters during the 2026-27 season, CP24 confirmed. That gives the Raptors time to plan a full ceremony worthy of his legacy. Until then, Lowry joins a short list of players whose impact on a single franchise is considered unquestioned.
Vince Carter's No. 15 was the first number retired by the Raptors. Lowry will be the second. That pairing — Carter, the electric scorer who put Toronto on the map, and Lowry, the gritty leader who won it a ring — tells the whole story of the franchise's first three decades.
From Memphis and Houston to Toronto's All-Time Leader
Lowry was drafted 24th overall by Memphis in 2006. He bounced to Houston before landing in Toronto in 2012. What followed was nine seasons of All-Star appearances, playoff runs, and one unforgettable title run in 2019. He later played for Miami and Philadelphia before his career wound down.
Now he comes home. The one-day contract, the press conference, the jersey retirement — all of it points to a city that never forgot what Lowry gave them. As Roundtable put it, the ceremony is about "formally ending his career as a member of the franchise" he helped define.
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