‘Toronto, my home’: Kyle Lowry confirms he’s retiring as a Raptor

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry waves to fans holding the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy during the 2019 Toronto Raptors Championship parade in Toronto on June 17, 2019. The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have signed guard Kyle Lowry to a contract extension. Per team policy, financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Former Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, one of the key players on the 2019 NBA championship team, has confirmed that he will officially retire in Toronto.

In a video posted on social media on Tuesday morning, Lowry recapped his 20-year NBA career, including nine seasons as a Raptor.

“Toronto, my home...Thank you. Thank you, Canada. And as I always told y’all, this is officially happening: I’m retiring as a Toronto Raptor. Twenty years and one day,” the Philadelphia native said.

Lowry’s post was released hours before what’s been billed as a “milestone” announcement by the team on Tuesday. No details about the event have been released, but a “special guest” is expected to be in attendance. Another post on Lowry’s Instagram shows that he landed in Toronto earlier this morning.

• FULL STORY: Lowry to sign one-day contract to retire with Raptors; jersey retirement planned

Lowry, 40, is considered to be one of the greatest Raptors of all time and has long said he wants to hang up his jersey in Toronto. Lowry’s No. 7 is reportedly set to be retired in the fall.

The Philadelphia native was a cornerstone of the Raptors success following a trade with the Houston Rockets in 2012. The six-time All-Star helped lead the team to seven-straight playoff appearances during his time in Toronto, including the franchise’s first-ever championship in 2019.

Lowry was traded to the Miami Heat in 2021 and played just 14 games last season with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers.

In a cryptic post on social media Monday night, Lowry hinted at his retirement. In a video, Lowry is seen receiving texts and calls from his teammates, including fellow former Raptor Fred VanVleet who wrote, “Don’t make me find out like this, man.”

The video ends on a cliffhanger with an incoming call from DeMar DeRozan, who also spent nine years in Toronto alongside Lowry and became a free agent on Monday after he was waived by the Sacramento Kings.

DeRozan was famously traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 2018 for Kawhi Leonard. Reports surfaced last week that Leonard will return to the Raptors next season following a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

• READ MORE: Raptors, Clippers reportedly agree to deal sending Leonard back to Toronto

Raptors general manager Bobby Webster, who had his contract extended and was promoted to executive vice president last month, is expected to make the announcement at 9:30 a.m.

CTVNewsToronto.ca and CP24.com will stream the news conference live online and on the CTV News and CP24 apps.