All-Star guard Kyle Lowry spent nearly half of his 20-year NBA career with the Toronto Raptors. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA
July 7 (UPI) -- Kyle Lowry, who helped lead the Toronto Raptors to their lone championship in 2019, will retire from the NBA after 20 seasons, he announced Tuesday.
Lowry signed a one-day contract with the Raptors to retire in Toronto, where he spent nine seasons. He is the franchise's all-time leader in assists, steals, triple-doubles and 3-point shots.
Lowry ranks second in franchise history in games played, minutes and points, trailing only longtime teammate DeMar DeRozan.
"It's hard work, grit, passion and, of course, a champion," Lowry said in a video posted on Instagram. "The guy who was there, the guy who stuck through everything, believing it was supposed to be what it was supposed to be. It was supposed to happen and it did."
