"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.
DODGERS STAND FIRM ON ROKI SASAKI STARTING ROLE DESPITE BRUTAL SPRING TRAINING
Roki Sasaki faces a 2.70 WHIP crisis, but the Dodgers believe his velocity and new cutter will secure his rotation spot.
Roki Sasaki hasn’t had the smoothest spring training for the Dodgers. He’s started three games, and his stats look rough: a 13.50 ERA, a 2.70 WHIP, and just 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. Yeah, that’s not what you want to see heading toward Opening Day.
Last year, Sasaki struggled as a starter until an injury sidelined him. The Dodgers shifted him to the bullpen, and he actually turned things around. He played a huge part in their 2025 World Series run, so you know the talent’s there.
Even with the shaky preseason, the Dodgers and Sasaki both still see him as a starter. It’s been bumpier than anyone hoped, but it’s only spring training, so there’s time for him to settle in once the real games begin.
Fabian Ardaya from The Athletic didn’t sugarcoat the situation when he weighed in. He pointed out that the Dodgers have to think about what would happen if Sasaki melts down in a regular-season game, especially early on. That kind of disaster inning could put the bullpen in a tough spot for days. But Ardaya also reminded everyone that the Dodgers can handle some struggles, especially during April and May. They survived a similar situation last year, and they still believe that Sasaki will develop best by pitching in big league games, even if it means taking a few lumps.
It’s a luxury for the Dodgers, but Ardaya said the team needs to keep an eye on not just Sasaki’s performance but also how much patience they have for him if he keeps faltering.
So, what about moving Sasaki back to the bullpen? Ardaya addressed that too. He said the Dodgers wouldn’t make that switch right away, not unless things really go off the rails as a starter or some other circumstances force their hand later in the season. But even as a reliever, Sasaki needs to get his fastball command under control. Without that, he’s just not going to be effective, whether he’s pitching one inning or six.
The bottom line: The Dodgers are sticking with Sasaki as a starter. GM Brandon Gomes made that clear back in January. He said Sasaki looks strong, his velocity is solid, and he’s getting better with his cutter and two-seam. Gomes believes that once Sasaki fully develops his arsenal, he’ll be tough for hitters, especially as he works through the lineup a third time.
So despite the rocky start and doubts, the Dodgers want Sasaki to be a starting pitcher. Now it’s up to him to prove he can handle it.
LUKA DONčIć FILES TO DISMISS CALIFORNIA CHILD SUPPORT REQUEST FROM ANAMARIA GOLTES
Luka Dončić asks a California court to dismiss Anamaria Goltes’ request for child support, citing Slovenia jurisdiction.
Luka Dončić, the Los Angeles Lakers star, isn’t letting a custody dispute with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, go unchecked. He just asked a California court to toss out her request for child support and attorney’s fees. Here’s his argument: neither he nor his kids live in California, so the case doesn’t belong there.
TMZ Sports reported that Dončić filed documents Friday in Los Angeles County. His legal team, led by Laura Wasser, pointed out that Gabriela, age two, and Olivia, just four months old, live with Goltes in Slovenia. Dončić says he doesn’t live in California either, and he already started legal proceedings for custody and child support back in Slovenia earlier this year.
Dončić is calling Goltes’ move a classic case of “forum shopping” basically, picking California because its child support laws might be more generous. He claims she’s only after a bigger payout and says her filing is “procedurally defective and legally improper".
Dončić also insists he’s been doing his part as a dad, covering all expenses for his daughters, according to both ESPN and his own court filings. He’s not exactly strapped for cash either; he’s in the middle of a three-year, $165 million contract. And he’s made it clear, “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness. I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.”
Behind the scenes, things have been messy. He wanted Goltes and the girls to move to the U.S. for the NBA season, but she said no and went back to Slovenia in May. That distance, he admitted, helped bring their engagement to an end.
Still, Dončić’s volley of personal turmoil hasn’t slowed him on the basketball court. He’s been delivering MVP-level performances for the Lakers, finding peace in basketball during a rough time. “That’s life; I don’t know what to say,” he said last week. “Basketball is giving me some kind of peace when I play a game.”
His stats are as dominant as ever: over his last five games, he’s averaged 43.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists, including a jaw-dropping 60-point game against the Miami Heat. He finished that game shooting 18 for 30, knocking down nine threes, and snagging five steals – a stat line almost unheard of in the NBA.
Dončić and Goltes go way back. They’ve been together since 2016, growing up together in Slovenia. He proposed in 2023, just before Gabriela arrived, and Olivia was born in December 2025, both in Slovenia. Their relationship hit a bump this season when Dončić travelled overseas for Olivia’s birth, missing games against the Raptors and Celtics. ESPN says there was some disagreement over travel plans for their older daughter, but authorities cleared things, and Dončić left without incident.
Goltes’ petition in California made the dispute public this month, and Dončić responded with his own legal action. He reportedly learned about her filing through media reports, adding another bit of drama. Even with all these challenges, Dončić has kept his focus on basketball, leading the Lakers as they climb the Western Conference standings.
Navigating a tough chapter as a father while dominating professionally, Dončić is managing both worlds at once: the legal fight off the court and his relentless drive on it.
