Kyle Lowry

Kyle Terrell Lowry was born on March 25, 1986, and is an American former professional basketball player who now holds a minority ownership stake in the Toronto Tempo of the WNBA. Over twenty seasons in the NBA, Lowry earned six All-Star selections, was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2016, and won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019—the franchise’s first and only title. He is considered one of the greatest Raptors ever, credited with helping transform the team from the post-Chris Bosh era into a championship winner. As the starting point guard from 2012 to 2021, he was central to the Raptors’ sustained success. Lowry also won a gold medal with the U.S. national team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Lowry played two seasons of college basketball at Villanova before being drafted 24th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the 2006 NBA draft. After three seasons in Memphis, he was traded to the Houston Rockets in February 2009. He spent four seasons there before being dealt to Toronto in the 2012 off-season, where he formed a backcourt partnership with DeMar DeRozan. In his second season with the Raptors, Lowry helped the team reach the playoffs for the first time in six years and win an Atlantic Division title in 2013–14. During the 2015–16 season, he led Toronto to a then-franchise-record 56 wins and the team’s first Eastern Conference finals appearance. In 2021, Lowry was traded to the Miami Heat, helping them reach the 2023 NBA Finals. He later played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 2024 until 2026, when he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Raptor.

Lowry grew up in North Philadelphia, one of two sons of Marie Holloway and Lonnie Lowry Sr., alongside his older brother Lonnie Jr., who is five years his senior. His father lived ten minutes away but became estranged when Kyle was about seven, leaving his mother—who worked at the IRS and the U.S. Post Office—and his disciplinarian grandmother, who worked at Dunkin’ Donuts, to raise him and his siblings. Kyle credits his brother Lonnie Jr. for keeping him on the right path, ensuring he avoided the fate of childhood friends who are no longer alive, and for preventing him from getting tattoos or piercings. Lonnie Jr. also taught him basketball, playing pickup games against older boys, and helped him find AAU tryouts through newspaper ads.

Lowry attended Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia, playing point guard for the varsity team. Rivals.com rated him a five-star recruit, listing him as the No. 6 point guard and No. 28 player in the U.S. in 2004.

At Villanova, Lowry was named to the Big East All-Rookie team and Philadelphia Big Five Rookie of the Year as a freshman, averaging 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in 24 games (three starts). As a sophomore, he earned All-Big East Second Team and First Team All-Big 5 honors, averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.3 steals in 33 games (31 starts). On February 27, 2020, Villanova retired his jersey number 1.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Lowry with the 24th pick in the 2006 NBA draft. He played ten games as a rookie before breaking his wrist against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 21, 2006, requiring season-ending surgery. He returned for the 2007–08 season, appearing in all 82 games. In 2008–09, Lowry competed for playing time with friend Mike Conley Jr. After Lionel Hollins became head coach in January 2009, Lowry was told the team would give Conley the starter’s minutes. Unhappy with his role, some in the organization viewed him as a bad influence.

On February 19, 2009, Lowry was traded to the Houston Rockets in a three-team deal involving the Grizzlies and Orlando Magic. Under coach Rick Adelman, he appreciated the mentorship and made his first playoff appearance in 2009. In 2009–10, he backed up Aaron Brooks, and on December 18, 2009, he posted a career-high 26 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and five steals in a 116–108 win over the Dallas Mavericks. With his contract expiring, the Rockets extended a qualifying offer on June 30, 2010, making him a restricted free agent.

He signed a four-year, $23.5 million offer sheet with the Cleveland Cavaliers on July 13, 2010, which the Rockets matched. In 2010–11, Lowry started 71 of 75 games, solidifying his reputation. On December 3, he scored a career-high 28 points with 12 assists in a 127–111 win over Memphis. On December 17, he had 17 points and a career-high 18 assists in another win over the Grizzlies.

On January 14, he matched his season high with 28 points in a 110–105 overtime loss to the New Orleans Hornets. On February 16, he scored a career-high 36 points in a 114–105 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.