"I WILL RETIRE A RAPTOR": INSIDE KYLE LOWRY’S EMOTIONAL ONE-DAY CONTRACT COMMITMENT
6-time All-Star Kyle Lowry confirms his commitment to sign a one-day contract and retire as the greatest Toronto Raptor in history.
Kyle Lowry’s going out the way everyone expected: as a Raptor. He shaped Toronto’s best years, led them to their first championship, and, honestly, there was never any doubt he’d close his story where it mattered most.
Lowry’s always known what a jersey would really mean when it was all over. Now, at 39, he’s made it official—he’ll sign a one-day contract and retire as a Raptor. He let everyone know before what might be his last set of games in Toronto, just confirming what fans already felt deep down. The city owns his legacy.
“My goal, and I’ve committed to this, is to sign a one-day contract and retire as a Raptor,” Lowry said after what could be his Toronto farewell. “That has not changed.”
The guy was the heartbeat of Toronto’s golden age. During his nine seasons, the Raptors hit heights they’d never seen before. He was the engine—running the show, keeping everyone locked in, and carrying the weight year after year. Not many players in Raptors history have handled that kind of responsibility for so long.
From 2012-13 to 2020-21, Lowry led the team to seven straight playoff trips. He made six All-Star teams, all as a Raptor, and landed on the All-NBA Third Team in 2015-16, a year they won a then-record 56 games. That season was when Toronto went from “Hey, they’re pretty good” to “Wow, they’re for real.”
Lowry and DeMar DeRozan built a backcourt that was tough, steady, and always in the thick of it. They turned Toronto into a force in the East.
And then came 2019. Kawhi Leonard took centre stage, but Lowry made it all work—scoring, defending, just doing whatever it took. That’s how the Raptors won their first (and only) NBA title.
Look at the stats, and there’s no argument. Lowry sits at the top of the franchise’s record books in assists, steals, and threes. He’s second in games played and points. In the playoffs, he basically owns every major stat you can name for Toronto.
But it’s not just about sticking around. It’s about stepping up. Lowry was the guy, no matter who was coaching or how tough the losses got. When the Raptors needed someone to lead, he did it.
Now, about that jersey up in the rafters—Toronto’s only retired one so far: Vince Carter’s No. 15. Lowry’s No. 7 is next. He doesn’t want to call it a sure thing, but you can tell it means a lot to him.
“I put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that,” he said. “The fact that it probably won’t ever be worn again would be pretty special.”
And what if Matt Devlin, the longtime Raptors commentator, hosts the ceremony? Lowry’s not sure he’ll keep it together.
“Y’all ever seen me cry?” he joked. “It depends on how Matt… If he does it, it’ll be a super emotional day.”
These days, Lowry’s role in Philly isn’t what it once was. Minutes and touches don’t tell the story anymore. But they never really did. His impact always ran deeper than numbers.
When Lowry finally calls it, it’s not just the end of a career. It’s the end of an era—the era where he made the Raptors matter. And when the dust settles, he’ll always be tied to the team he helped build. Always a Raptor, in every way that counts.
LAKERS ON THE BRINK: LEBRON JAMES ADMITS DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER 3-0 SERIES DEFICIT
"We still have life." LeBron James remains defiant despite a brutal 131-108 loss to OKC at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves just one loss away from elimination after a tough 131-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Although the Lakers held a halftime lead for the second consecutive game, they again fell apart in the second half, allowing Oklahoma City to cruise to a 3-0 series lead.
LeBron James spoke after the game, highlighting the Thunder’s depth and relentless energy while emphasising that the Lakers still believe they have a chance to push the series further. The Thunder outscored Los Angeles 74-49 after halftime and once more dominated the third quarter, continuing a pattern that has largely defined this series.
“They’re solid from top to bottom,” James said after the game. “And they never take their foot off the gas.”
Oklahoma City converted at a 56 per cent clip and spread the scoring load, even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only 7-of-20 from the field with 23 points. The Thunder’s supporting players reinforced the effort alongside Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso.
LeBron pointed directly to the third quarter as the turning point for Game 3.
“Obviously, the third quarter is where it starts,” he noted. “We lacked the energy and effort, and they dropped over 30 points on us.”
Despite strong first-half performances from Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, giving Los Angeles a one-point lead at halftime, Oklahoma City seized control right after the break, forcing turnovers and capitalising on easy transition baskets.
“In that third quarter, we couldn’t hit shots,” James admitted. “We defended but didn’t get stops, which let them take control.”
The Lakers were outscored 33-20 in that quarter alone. James managed just one field goal, while Austin Reaves went scoreless in the period.
James finished the night with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but his shooting was off at 7-for-19, and he posted a minus-24 plus-minus rating.
Los Angeles also turned the ball over 17 times, which led to 30 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers 64-44 in the paint as well.
When pressed about the frustration of falling behind 3-0, James kept his response measured.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed or angry,” he said. “You’re obviously disappointed being down 3-0, but we still have life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick backed up James’ take, describing Oklahoma City as an elite team in the NBA.
“They’ve beaten us three straight games,” Redick said. “They’re a really impressive basketball team.”
Redick previously drew comparisons between the Thunder and dominant teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls and the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. James acknowledged Oklahoma City’s versatility and depth, which have caused significant matchup problems.
“They have the right personnel to adapt to whatever you throw out there,” James said. “And they stay productive no matter who’s on the floor.”
Even with Gilgeous-Alexander’s uneven scoring, the Thunder have continued to win comfortably. Holmgren’s inside presence has been dominant, and Mitchell once again put up a strong stat line with 24 points and 10 assists.
James wasn’t surprised by the Thunder’s sustained pressure, given their roster makeup.
“You’ve seen them develop over the years,” he said. “They have a lot of players who can do multiple things, and that depth really helps.”
The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic, sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain from April, which has hampered their offensive rhythm, especially late in games.
Facing elimination now, James insisted the team’s focus remains squarely on Game 4 rather than any bigger questions about the group’s future.
"No", James said when asked if they considered this might be their last run together. “We’re just concentrating on the moment and moving forward from there.”
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will fight to avoid a sweep and keep the series alive before heading back to Oklahoma City.
MAX HOLLOWAY BREAKS SILENCE ON PARAMOUNT REGARDING CONOR MCGREGOR UFC 329 RUMORS
Relive the 13-year history between Holloway and McGregor as the Hawaiian star targets International Fight Week for ultimate revenge.
Max Holloway is hungry for payback against Conor McGregor as rumours swirl about a rematch.
McGregor hasn’t stepped inside the octagon since that quick loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. His last win was way back in 2020 when he steamrolled Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in under a minute. He was supposed to fight Michael Chandler in 2024, but that fell through after he got injured.
Now, at 37, McGregor’s back in training and eyeing a return for UFC 329 on July 11, right as International Fight Week rolls around. Before that, he missed out on a shot at the White House card, so this July date is shaping up to be his next window.
Dana White has flip-flopped a bit on McGregor’s comeback, but now he sounds confident: “It’s looking good. Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.” And right now, Holloway looks like the top pick for the fight, 13 years after they first went at it.
Back then, McGregor beat Holloway by decision. Since then, Holloway’s had his own ups and downs; he lost the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira in March and hasn’t fought since. Still, he’s eager to get back, especially if it means a shot at Conor.
Talking to Paramount, Holloway laid it out: “We have history. We fought a long time ago. If someone’s got a win over me, I want that back. If he really is serious about returning, and it looks like he is, then this is an exciting fight. He looks hungry. He even did a boxing exhibition not too long ago, so it looks like he’s really coming back. I just want another shot. Any fight with Conor is huge, but with our past? It means even more. If I can knock a few names off my list, that’s great.”
For now, Holloway hasn’t heard anything official from the UFC about July. "Maybe we'll see what happens,” he said. “I’m seeing all the same talk you are. I haven’t heard anything yet, but July would work for me. They say you’re only as good as your last fight, and I want people to forget about that one as soon as possible.”
