« I’m going to sign a one-day contract to retire there »

For some players, their last career team is the perfect match, just to come full circle. This is particularly the case of an NBA champion with the Raptors, who has already announced that he wants to withdraw to Canada! This is what to please the fans!

Within the league, signing a one-day deal with a franchise for the sole purpose of retiring there is a move that has become quite common. Paul Pierce had done so in order to « complete » his career in Boston, or Amar’e Stoudemire at the Knicks. Now, it looks like another All-Star is going to take that route, and that’s Kyle Lowry. The latter has indeed announced to know where he wanted to stop.

Unsurprisingly, his choice fell on Toronto, with whom he won the ultimate coronation in the 2018-19 season, alongside Kawhi leonard. Asked by Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, the current Miami leader is already expecting an emotional event. He himself wouldn’t be at all surprised if he broke down when signing the deal, aware of what the franchise meant to him:

Kyle Lowry wants to bow out to the Raptors

Like I said, and I’m saying it now, I’ll sign a one-day deal and retire as the Toronto Raptor. That’s all for me. I know I’m going to be a little sensitive and cry that day. I do not know. Maybe I’ll hold back. But it’s one of those days when I know there will be a lot of love for me and I will return it, it will be interesting to see how it goes because I don’t know what to expect.

The announcement should appeal to fans of the Dinos, who will be delighted to welcome one last time one of their darlings. Because beyond the title gleaned, Lowry is quite simply the best leader in the history of the Canadiens. In nine seasons there, he played more than 600 regular season games for 17.5 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists, becoming an All-Star six times in a row. His profile as a hard worker and dedicated to the collective has also contributed to his being highly regarded in the ScotiaBank Arena.

Transferred to the Heat during the summer, so that he can try to get a last ring before the end, the native of Philadelphia therefore left lasting memories in Ontario. It is enough to see the many tributes to his journey there to realize it, he can already be assured of seeing his jersey removed on the spot. A deserved accomplishment for him, who gave everything he had for the franchise:

One thing is certain, Kyle Lowry’s farewell to Toronto will bring tears to the faces of all concerned. No doubt the Raptors will do anything to make this memorable!