74 reasons why Kawhi Leonard is staying with the Toronto Raptors

3. Kyle Lowry

The heart and soul of the franchise, Raptors finally shut all the haters up by leading the team to an NBA title. Much maligned in previous seasons for his perceived “playoff choking”, Lowry carried the Raptors in the final game against the Warriors by erupting for 26 points and 10 assists.

Lowry averaged 17.7 points, 6.2 assists, and shot 42-percent from three beginning in the Eastern Conference Finals. As solid as these numbers were, Lowry’s impact went beyond mere stats.

"“You’ve got to deal with it. Every night you are not going to be shooting 55 percent and hitting 12 3s. Some nights are just going to come down to defense.” Kyle Lowry"

The Raptors’ captain and the longest-tenured player would leave his fingerprints all over the basketball court. From hustling for loose balls (including diving for one out-of-bounds and inadvertently starting a fight with Warriors’ minority owner Mark Stevens), drawing charges, or making a clutch steal, Lowry was everywhere.

A five-time All-Star, Lowry’s biggest contribution to the franchise is his dogged determination. While he was deadly from beyond the arc and was a nifty playmaker, Lowry’s feistiness and “never say die” attitude is what pushed him to become a better player than most expected.

Lowry’s accomplishments now put him as a top-three Raptor of all time and potentially as a future Hall of Famer. Perhaps just as importantly, he has built a friendship with Kawhi.

They were seen out in Philadelphia (Lowry’s hometown) buying snacks late at night. Kawhi made Lowry a “promise” right when he arrived. And the chemistry they continue to develop will only become stronger.