Kyle Lowry spoke to NBA reporters today (2/21) after his first practice with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The veteran guard said it’s a “dream come true” to play for his hometown Sixers.
“It wasn’t a dream,” Lowry said. “You never want to play at home because there’s so much going on. It’s a hard place to play when you go back home. But at the end of the day, it’s a dream come true because I’m actually being able to play in front of my friends and family and people I cheered as a Sixers fan growing up.
“Now, I’m prepared to do it. When you’re younger, you’re not really prepared to do it. But at this in my time in my career, I’m prepared to do it.”
The Miami Heat traded Lowry to the Charlotte Hornets in the Terry Rozier deal. Lowry signed with the Sixers after getting waived by the Hornets.
A six-time All-Star, Lowry averaged 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Heat this season before getting traded while shooting 42.6% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
Lowry won a championship with Sixers head coach Nick Nurse on the Toronto Raptors in 2019. The two men have a solid rapport.
“My job is to do everything I can to make this team and this organization better,” Lowry said. “No matter what the role is, what the minutes are, what the situation is. My job is to be a professional and help Tyrese (Maxey) get better, help this team get better, help coach get better and help everybody get better. That’s my job.”
The Sixers are in fifth place in the East with a record of 32-22. Their first game after the All-Star break is against the New York Knicks.
Lowry has career NBA averages of 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists with the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Raptors and Heat. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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