Every NBA team’s greatest point guard of all time

Toronto Raptors — Kyle Lowry

2012-2021
17.5 points per game
7.1 assists per game
4.9 rebounds per game

Kyle Lowry had a whole career before he became a member of the Toronto Raptors. He spent three seasons with the Grizzlies and three seasons with the Rockets before he ended up in Toronto. There were a few moments that changed Lowry’s career. He was on a bad path, but when the Raptors hired Masai Ujiri as general manager, he was able to take accountability for the rest of his career. Then, the Raptors traded away Rudy Gay after a rough start, allowing Lowry and DeMar DeRozan to take over as leaders for the team.

Lowry became the star that Ujiri knew he could become. The Raptors rumbled to the number-three seed in the Eastern Conference after starting the season 6-12. He used that momentum to post career highs in almost every category, and he had a good showing against the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs. He actually had the game-winning shot in his hands in Game 7, but Paul Pierce ended up in the right place to block it.

He was a free agent that offseason, and he was expected to garner major interest. He ended up re-signing with the Raptors on a four-year extension. This is where he would grow the legend that is what we think about Kyle Lowry today. By 2015-16, he was breaking 20 points per game. He could rebound from the point guard position, although he wasn’t the normal assist guy teams had from the guy walking the ball up the court. Lowry was always a threat to go to the basket, and he was far from a pass-first player.

Lowry helped the Raptors win the first title north of the border. In the title-clinching game against the Warriors, Lowry had 26 points and 10 rebounds, showing he had an immense impact on a championship team. In a league full of stars, the Raptors always looked like a team full of just enough. Instead, they added Kawhi Leonard, and they followed his lead to a championship. Lowry has since joined the Miami Heat, but his legacy will always be in Canada.