Kyle Lowry’s playing career came to an end in Toronto on Tuesday, and he also started a new basketball endeavour in the city.
Lowry and his partner Ayahna Cornish-Lowry have joined the Toronto Tempo’s ownership group, the team announced.
It’s fitting that Lowry, whose storybook journey from underdog to Greatest Raptor of All Time helped Toronto believe in the Raptors, is now rallying behind the city’s new WNBA franchise to help inspire belief in another upstart team.
“We are a huge basketball family and have been big supporters of the WNBA since day one,” said Lowry and Cornish-Lowry in a statement released by the Tempo. “This feels like a true full-circle moment to announce our ownership in the Tempo. We’re excited to help build something special in Toronto, inspire the next generation of athletes and fans, and support the continued growth of women’s basketball in Canada.”
Lowry is the Raptors’ all-time leader in assists (4277), three-pointers (4031), steals (873), and, of course, charges drawn (he’s the NBA’s all-time leader). But his impact extends far outside the numbers. It was the heart he played with and his feel for the game that best symbolized Lowry’s career.
“I think everyone in this building, this building, this city this country, even myself, will remember Kyle for something a little different,” said Raptors general manager and executive vice president Bobby Webster at Lowry’s retirement ceremony. “I think watching him play basketball stirred everybody’s heart.”
That same fierce passion for helping not just himself, but also others prosper shone through off the court, too. Lowry spoke about the work he did in the community as the thing that stood out most to him about his time off the court in Toronto.
“Me and my family, we did Thanksgivings here, we did Christmases here,” Lowry said at the ceremony. I think that’s the most important thing we gave back to the community the best we could.”
Lowry and Cornish-Lowry have worked to “create meaningful opportunities for underserved communities while championing education, wellness and the power of sport to create positive change” through their Lowry Love Foundation.
Now they’ll be involved in the community in another way, through Toronto’s burgeoning WNBA squad as it continues to grow and evolve in the coming years.
“Kyle and Ayahna have made an immeasurable impact on the game of basketball and on the city of Toronto,” said Larry Tanenbaum, Chairman of Kilmer Sports Ventures and the Toronto Tempo. “Their commitment to community, their passion for growing the game and their belief in the future of women’s sports make them outstanding additions to our ownership group. We are proud to welcome them to the Tempo family.”
