From Zero to Hero: Four Toronto Raptor success stories

Kyle Lowry— Castoff to greatest Raptor of all-time

Before being traded to the Raptors, Kyle Lowry was a player who’d flashed potential but had never fully put it all together. He’d also developed the unfortunate reputation around the league as being hot-headed and difficult to manage, frequently clashing with his coaches.

So, when the Raptors acquired Lowry in July 2012 for a future first-round pick and some spare parts, expectations were tempered. In that first season, he competed with Jose Calderon for the starting point guard position, before the latter was traded away in a three-team deal. There wasn’t anything to suggest the star he’d become.

Then Masai Ujiri arrived as general manager, challenging Lowry to be better. After nearly being traded to the New York Knicks, he took off like a supernova, helping to lead the Raptors back to the playoffs during the 2013-14 season. In the years to come, he’d be named to multiple All-Star teams and established himself as one of the premier all-around point guards.

But like any compelling story, there were unexpected plot twists and hurdles to overcome. For years, the Raptors were coming up short in the playoffs, with blame falling squarely on Lowry’s and his co-star, DeMar DeRozan’s shoulders. He had a new reputation to contend with: a great player in the regular season, but small potatoes when it mattered most.

Then sweet vindication.

By guiding the Raptors to their first-ever NBA Championship and hitting a number of big shots in the deciding game, Lowry erased the sins of his past— a renaissance within a much larger career renaissance.

The experts have noticed. In his recent podcast with Zach Lowe, Bill Simmons, notorious for his overwhelming Boston bias, summed up Lowry perfectly— other players can have higher stats, but Lowry is usually the most important player on the floor. You can always trust him to make the right decision.

And now he’s a winner and arguably the best player in Toronto Raptors history.