Kyle Lowry shared a full-circle moment Monday night as the Philadelphia 76ers closed out a win over the Toronto Raptors, one that felt far bigger than the final score, according to Ian Harrison of AP News.
With under two minutes remaining, the Toronto crowd began chanting his name, and Lowry was sent to the scorer’s table as the arena rose to its feet, delivering a long, emotional ovation.
The appearance may have been Lowry’s final time playing in Toronto, the city where he became the face of the franchise and helped deliver its only NBA title.
The moment wasn’t lost on him.
“That was special in a way you can’t really plan,” Lowry said afterward. “To hear that love again, in that building, it hit me pretty hard. I didn’t expect it to feel like that.”
Nick Nurse, who coached Lowry during Toronto’s championship run, said he heard the chants clearly and knew what the moment called for.
“Once I heard it, I knew we had to do it,” Nurse said. “Those moments don’t come around often, and I wanted him to have that one for himself.”
As Lowry checked in, he soaked in the applause, acknowledging the crowd that once embraced him as the heartbeat of the team.
“That city gave me everything,” the guard said. “They believed in me, they pushed me, and they changed my life.”
Despite the emotional return, Lowry reiterated that his final goodbye is still planned for the future.
He confirmed his intention to eventually sign a one-day contract with Toronto so he can officially retire as a Raptor.
“That’s always been the plan,” he said. “That’s home. That’s where my story really became what it is.”
Atlantic Notes: Brown, Embiid, Lowry, Shead https://t.co/B7l8KO12gH pic.twitter.com/YzimmvO6xE
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) January 15, 2026
