A 6x All-Star, 2016 All-NBA Player, and 2019 NAB Champion, Kyle Lowry has seen a lot of success in the NBA. Since his arrival in Toronto in 2012, he has been a part of the best stretch in the franchise’s history.
But is it fair to call him the best Raptor of All-Time? According to his former teammate, DeMar DeRozan, there’s no questioning the fact.
“He the best Raptor of all time, and that’s coming from me. Period.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OUeNPm-9Q0
DeMar on Kyle Lowry: “He’s the best Raptor of all time, and that’s coming from me”
Yet NBA Twitter just can’t accept the fact that he is one of the greatest point guards of the 2010s pic.twitter.com/6rXIMMLraA
— tommas (@RapsKL07) March 26, 2020
Needless to say, that statement didn’t come without some backlash.
Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Chris Bosh, and even Kawhi Leonard — this team has seen many, many extraordinary players pass through their doors.
When discussing franchise greats, though, longevity is everything. Lowry has a good case to take the title as greatest Raptor ever simply because he’s been on the team longer than any of those guys. He also helped the Raptors win their first-ever NBA Championship and has averaged 17 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds on 42% shooting during his eight-year stint with the team.
Admittedly, DeRozan’s claim comes with a hint of bias. It’s no secret that the two have been best friends for years and even now after DeRozan has left the Raptors. But when you think about it, he may not be entirely wrong.
When talking about the greatest Raptors ever, Lowry’s name has to at least be a part of the conversation.
