StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

"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.

"I will retire a Raptor": Inside Kyle Lowry’s emotional one-day contract commitment
Kyle Lowry confirms he will sign a one-day contract to retire as a Raptor

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.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TRADE JAREN JACKSON JR. TO UTAH JAZZ IN 8-PLAYER BLOCKBUSTER

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, creating a record $28.8 million trade exception for 2026.

top-news
Grizzlies finalise Jaren Jackson Jr. deal

The Memphis Grizzlies turned heads on Tuesday, pulling off a blockbuster trade that sent two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz. Along with Jackson, the Grizzlies shipped out Vince Williams Jr, John Konchar, and Jock Landale. Coming back their way: Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and, maybe the most important part, three future first-round picks.

And honestly, it feels like Memphis isn’t done stirring the pot. Inside the organisation, they see Zach Edey and Cedric Coward as the future. Both went late in the lottery in the past two drafts, and the Grizzlies landed some value in the second round this year, too, grabbing Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer.

All this movement means Ja Morant’s future in Memphis suddenly looks shaky. He’s been the face of the franchise since they took him No. 2 overall back in 2019. When he’s healthy, he’s electric—no question. But injuries and off-court drama have slowed him down, and now, with the trade deadline closing in, the Grizzlies are openly shopping him. Teams around the league are watching.

There’s another wrinkle here: by dealing Jackson, Memphis created a massive trade exception—$28.8 million, the biggest in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Shams Charania. It’s a huge chess piece. With that exception, the Grizzlies can absorb big, ugly contracts from other teams in exchange for more draft picks. Think of what the Thunder did a few years back—stockpiling picks by taking on bad deals until they rebuilt into a contender.

Now, you’ve probably heard Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name floating around in trade rumours. He hasn’t officially asked out of Milwaukee, but everyone in the league expects something to happen soon. Teams like the Timberwolves and Knicks are circling. The Grizzlies? They’re not likely to chase Giannis directly. But with that trade exception, they could play a big role as a third team—taking on salary dumps or unwanted contracts, collecting more picks, and helping another franchise pull off the Giannis blockbuster. Memphis just put itself squarely in the middle of the NBA’s hottest rumour.

KLINT KUBIAK SNUBS NFL RIVALS TO LEAD RAIDERS’ NEW ERA UNDER TOM BRADY

The Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, with Tom Brady leading the search.

top-news
Klint Kubiak is set for the Raiders as Seahawks coach faces the New England Patriots

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a huge shakeup right now. Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is set to become their new head coach—and honestly, he’s nothing like Pete Carroll.

Kubiak’s still in his 30s, calling plays on offence, while Carroll just wrapped up last season as the NFL’s oldest head coach. The Raiders had their eyes on Ben Johnson previous year, but when he decided to take the Bears job, they turned to Carroll instead.

This time, Las Vegas seemed to have that same level of interest in Kubiak, but they had to wait things out because Seattle was still in the playoffs. Tom Brady, who’s a minority owner with the Raiders, clearly played a big part in picking the new coach.

Since nothing’s official until after the Super Bowl, Brady can’t come right out and talk about Kubiak joining the team. Still, he didn’t hold back when it came to sharing what he liked about the guy.

“Klint’s played to his team’s strengths. Last week, he did a ton of good things against a really strong Rams defence,” Brady said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “That’s what it took for them to win. The Rams are a tough team. That game in Seattle could’ve gone either way... Seattle really had to play a complete game in all three phases to pull it out, and they’ll need to do the same this weekend in Santa Clara.”

Brady also talked about Fernando Mendoza.

Another big reason the Raiders’ coaching job is so appealing? They’ve got the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Everyone expects them to grab Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Brady doesn’t have to be secretive about it—nobody’s jumping ahead of them in the draft. He was pretty open about how much he likes Mendoza.

“What do I value most? When I see him, he’s always talking up his teammates. He wins the Heisman, and he’s giving credit to everyone else,” Brady said. “That’s the kind of attitude you want in a leader.”

Kubiak focused on the Super Bowl, not the job switch.

Kubiak’s career is about to take off, but right now, he’s locked in on trying to win his first Super Bowl. So, he isn’t ready to talk about the Raiders just yet.

“I’m coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and that’s all I’m thinking about,” Kubiak told reporters on Monday. “I’m just excited for this week and this game.”

Not everyone in Seattle is thrilled to see Kubiak go. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had nothing but praise after working with him this year.

“He was unbelievable,” Darnold said Monday. “The stuff I picked up from Klint—just with schemes, and then learning from him as a coach and a person—the grit. He’s up before the sun, gets to the facility at 4 or 4:30, and leaves later than anyone. The guy just grinds. He loves football, and he’s always straight with his players. I know I really appreciated that, and so did the rest of the guys.”

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News