This is the most important season in the history of the Toronto Raptors. But, the Raptors will only go as far as Kyle Lowry can take them.
Kawhi Leonard is the best player on the Toronto Raptors. Through 12 games, he is averaging 24.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. He looks like a legitimate MVP candidate. However, Kyle Lowry is just as essential to the team’s success.
Over the past six seasons, Lowry has become the heart and soul of the Raptors. Lowry was born in Philadelphia. He was a five-star recruit coming out of Cardinal Dougherty High School. Lowry decided to stay close to home for college. He enrolled at Villanova University. Lowry spent two seasons as a member of the Wildcats before declaring for the NBA draft.
On June 28, 2006, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Lowry with the 24th overall pick. Lowry only played 10 games as a rookie. He broke his left wrist in November during a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers and missed the rest of the season. Lowry averaged 5.6 points, 3.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 17.5 minutes of action.
Lowry’s stay in Memphis was short. The following year the Grizzlies drafted Mike Conley fourth overall. In 2009, Lionel Hollins was named the team’s new head coach. Hollins informed Lowry that the team was committed to Conley. In February 2009, Lowry was traded to the Houston Rockets.
The trade to Houston was a low point in Lowry’s career. Rocket’s GM, Daryl Morey is one of the best at finding undervalued assets. He was able to acquire Lowry in exchange for Rafer Alston.
Lowry spent four seasons with the Rockets but struggled with consistency. In 2011, Kevin McHale replaced Rick Adelman as the team’s head coach. Lowry played well during the 2011-12 season but missed 35 games due to a bacterial infection. During his absence, Goran Dragic emerged, and again it appeared Lowry was expendable.
Point guard has been a weak spot for the Toronto Raptors since Damon Stoudamire left town. There were the dark days when the Raptors were led by Mike James. He was quickly replaced by T.J. Ford.
Ford also didn’t last very long. He was injured in 2007 and replaced in the starting lineup by Jose Calderon. Ford was dealt in the offseason, and the keys to the offense were handed over to Calderon. This continued until 2012.
Entering the 2012 offseason, Steve Nash was set to become a free agent. The Raptors had their sights set on the former two-time MVP. Nash is the most talented Canadian basketball player of all-time. He was an eight-time All-Star. In 2012, Nash was 38 years old, but still playing at a high level.
Ultimately, Nash elected to sign a three-year, $36 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Raptors quickly moved on to Plan B. On July 11, 2012, the Raptors traded a future first-round pick and Gary Forbes for Kyle Lowry.