Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks represented more than just an opportunity for the Toronto Raptors to get the second half started off right. It was a chance for Kyle Lowry to once again prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is the best player to ever wear Raptors colors by passing Chris Bosh in yet another category.
Lowry was third all-time in points scored by a Raptors player, as his nine-season body of work was slightly behind what Bosh was able to tally in seven before bolting for the Miami Heat.
Lowry, still playing well in what has been a very difficult season for the Raptors, chose to once again rewrite Toronto’s record books by making a shot from beyond the arc and relegating Bosh to third place.
Lowry scored career point No. 10,276 against Atlanta tonight, making him second on Toronto’s all-time scoring list. Only the great DeMar DeRozan is ahead of him, and Lowry has a lot of work to do if he wants to catch him.
Kyle Lowry proved once again he is the greatest Raptors player ever
Lowry’s record-breaking season was briefly halted by some injuries, but he is still having another fine season, as his 18.0 points and 7.0 assists per game go to prove. Considering the uncertainty around his future, it’s nice to see he broke that record this season.
Lowry, a Philadelphia native who just sold his Toronto house, is a free agent at the end of this year, which has prompted ceaseless trade speculation ahead of him potentially leaving the team and forcing them to get nothing in return. Knowing how important he is to this franchise, Lowry has tried his best to squash that.
Lowry claimed that he will retire as a Raptor, even if it’s just on a one-day contract. Perhaps this could be a sign that he’s coming back in 2021-22, meaning that he could have a chance at getting a few thousand extra points and challenging DeRozan’s record. If he keeps up his normal scoring pace, that record falling some time next year or the year before is very realistic.
Lowry might be on the verge of leaving, but he has continued to chalk up accomplishments that prove his worth to the franchise. It doesn’t matter if he overtakes DeRozan. He has already become the best Raptors player ever long ago, and he’s make that title even harder for future stars to rip away.