Toronto Raptors fans have a clear rooting interest in the NBA Finals, as Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry is eyeing his second championship ring. Even though he is not starting following a demotion to the bench, the future Hall of Famer is taking that new role in stride as he tries to help his team win.
Lowry was traded to the Heat in a sign-and-trade swap that helped Precious Achiuwa land in Toronto. With Miami getting fined for tampering with Lowry ahead of the start of NBA free agency, it seems like both sides had wanted to get this deal done for quite some time.
Leaving Toronto had to be difficult for him, but Lowry landed on a team that has made the Eastern Conference Finals in consecutive seasons before making this improbable run to the Finals. It sounds like Lowry isn’t missing Toronto too much, based on his latest quotes.
“Coming here, I got the opportunity to play with one of my closest friends, Jimmy Butler, and an opportunity to be around Bam,” Lowry said. “It was a great decision…It worked out for both sides.”
No matter what happens in this series, it seems like Lowry is thriving in Miami.
The pace/confidence Kyle Lowry has brought to Miami’s offense has been tangible. Dude is 37 and is pushing on makes & misses, playing like a maniac, making perfect rotations. Heart of a champ
— NBA University (@NBA_University) June 5, 2023
Toronto Raptors great Kyle Lowry is thriving with the Heat
Lowry may not be putting up gaudy offensive numbers, but part of the reason that Miami’s bench units have been so effective in the postseason is the presence of Lowry and his desire to make sure they don’t sleepwalk into games against premier competition.
The Heat may not have been overly thrilled with the fact that it took Lowry a ton of time before he started scoring as he did in Toronto, but they wouldn’t have come this far without Tyler Herro unless Lowry was playing his usual brand of basketball.
While Achiuwa can be a maddening player to watch due to how all over the place he appears to be, the fact that Toronto was able to add a terrific defender and athletic toolbox for a veteran in Lowry who had no intention of staying long-term can be classed as a small victory for Masai Ujiri.
Stat sheet won’t tell you any of it but Kyle Lowry has his prints all over this game
— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) June 8, 2023
Lowry leaving may have opened up some wounds that not all Raptors fans have been able to stitch close just yet, but the fact that he is thriving in his new destination and helped get the Raptors a piece that can build around in the future could serve as his last parting gift.