Kyle Lowry to announce retirement

According to Grange, the team has scheduled an event and news conference for Tuesday, July 7. The Raptors haven’t revealed the purpose of that event but are referring to it as a “monumental moment” for the franchise, Grange adds, citing sources who say Lowry will formally call it a career at that presser.

The Raptors are expected to further recognize Lowry and his contributions to the franchise over the course of the 2026-27 season, including likely retiring his No. 7 jersey, sources tell Grange.

Kyle Lowry had legendary career

The 24th overall pick in the 2006 draft, Lowry began his career by establishing himself as a productive player over the course of six seasons in Memphis and Houston. However, he lost out to Mike Conley for the starting point guard job with the Grizzlies, then was supplanted by Goran Dragic in Houston, leading to a 2012 offseason trade sent him to Toronto in exchange for Gary Forbes and a first-round pick that later became Steven Adams.

The Philadelphia native emerged as one of the NBA’s best point guards during his time as a Raptor. He made six consecutive All-Star teams from 2015-20 and helped the team win its first ever championship in 2019 alongside NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who is on track to be reacquired by Toronto around the same time Lowry will be signing his own one-day contract.

Over the course of nine seasons in Toronto, Lowry averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 34.6 minutes per game, making the All-NBA third team in 2016 and also showing up on MVP and Defensive Player of the Year ballots that year.

With the Raptors entering a retooling phase, Lowry was signed-and-traded to the Heat in 2021 and spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Heat before being sent to the Hornets in deal for Terry Rozier that has since become infamous. After being bought out by Charlotte, Lowry joined his hometown Sixers, with whom he has played since February 2024.

All told, Lowry — who turned 40 in March — played in the NBA for 20 seasons, becoming just the 12th player in league history to accomplish that feat. The former Villanova star averaged 13.8 PPG, 6.0 APG and 4.2 RPG in 1,187 regular-season games and ranks 19th on the NBA’s list of all-time assist leaders. He also appeared in 138 postseason contests, making the NBA Finals for a second time in 2023 with the Heat.