1. Kyle Lowry
The current point guard of the Toronto Raptors is also the best in Raptors history. Make no doubt about it.
Lowry was traded to the Raptors on July 11, 2012 for a future first round pick and Gary Forbes. His time with the Raptors was in doubt early on after he was injured in the fourth game of the season and was playing second fiddle to Jose Calderon upon his return.
Calderon was traded, and Lowry began to solidify himself as a permanent fixture, but still faced questions over his reputation as someone who clashed with coaches. Ujiri was hired and Lowry was moments away from being traded to the New York Knicks. Thank goodness that never happened.
Since 2014, Lowry has been the enigmatic force that has driven the Raptors to their most successful period in franchise history.
He’s become a leader, a mentor for younger players and an All-Star talent. He’s productivity and his overall impact on the game has increased in that period of time, too. Lowry averaged twenty-two points and seven assists per game in 2016-17, shooting a remarkable forty-one percent from beyond the three-point line.
DeRozan was the face of the franchise during his time in Toronto, but Lowry was the outright leader.
Lowry has always felt like an underdog which makes rooting for him that much sweeter, but let’s not downplay how good he actually is. Other than Mike Conley, he might be the most underrated point guard in the game today. But coming into his 14th season in the NBA – he’s still proving people wrong, as the best point guard in franchise history.