Kyle Lowry has fulfilled his promise to retire as a member of the Toronto Raptors. On July 7, he signed a ceremonial one-day contract with the franchise, marking the end of his illustrious career. Lowry, one of only 12 players in NBA history to play 20 seasons, confirmed his decision via social media before a scheduled news conference in Toronto.

The date of the announcement, 7/7, pays tribute to the No. 7 jersey he wore while leading the Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship.

In his heartfelt message, he expressed gratitude:
“Thank you to my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, my opponents, the staff, the media and especially the fans. It’s all about you. I appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you, Toronto. Thank you, Canada. And as I always told y'all, it’s officially happening. I’m retiring as a Toronto Raptor — 20 years and one day.”

Tributes quickly flooded in, with many fans dubbing him the GROAT — the Greatest Raptor of All-Time.

At 40 years old, Lowry, a native of Philadelphia, played college basketball at Villanova before entering the NBA in 2006. He concluded his playing career with the 76ers, appearing in 14 games last season.

A six-time All-Star during his tenure with the Raptors, Lowry also secured an Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games and was an All-NBA selection in 2015-16. He was the No. 24 pick in the 2006 NBA draft by Memphis and also played for Houston, Miami, and the 76ers. He averaged 13.8 points and six assists per game, with his 2,209 made 3-pointers ranking 14th in NBA history.