What to know
- Kyle Lowry’s No. 7 will be retired by the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 10 at Scotiabank Arena.
- The GROAT (aka Greatest Raptor of All Time) will be honoured after the Raptors face the Philadelphia 76ers.
- Fans can celebrate with two additional “GROAT Nights” on Jan. 7 and 8, featuring a T-shirt and limited-edition bobblehead.
- Lowry will become just the second Raptor to have his number retired, joining Vince Carter.
Mark your calendars, Toronto: Following Kyle Lowry’s retirement announcement, Raptors fans have officially got the dates dedicated to celebrating the ‘GROAT’ in the city.
The Raptors announced that Kyle Lowry’s iconic No. 7 jersey will be raised to the rafters at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 10, following the team’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers — his former team before signing a one-day contract to retire with the Raptors.
The ceremony will mark the second jersey retirement in franchise history, joining Vince Carter’s No. 15, which was retired in November 2024.
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The Philadelphia native spent nine seasons with Toronto, becoming the face of the franchise during its most successful era. He was a force in leading the Raptors to their first NBA championship in 2019, making him the player many fans have dubbed the GROAT — the Greatest Raptor of All Time.
“I’ve been looking forward to this moment for years,” Lowry said in a press release on Thursday. “I always said that Toronto is home, and that I’d retire a Raptor, and to see my No. 7 go up in that building is going to mean everything to me.”
Lowry added that the championship was something the team, organization, city and fans built together.
“We became champions together, and to be able to share this night with all of them, and with my family, is going to mean a lot to me,” he said.
Three nights to celebrate the GROAT
The jersey retirement ceremony won’t be the only opportunity for Raptors fans to celebrate Lowry.
The team is planning three special “GROAT Nights” at Scotiabank Arena in January.
The festivities begin Jan. 7, when the Raptors host the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans attending that game will receive a collectible Kyle Lowry T-shirt, with special programming and surprises planned throughout the night.
The celebration continues Jan. 8 against the Utah Jazz, also tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans will receive a limited-edition Lowry bobblehead.
The weekend culminates Jan. 10 against the 76ers, when Lowry will be joined by family, former teammates and members of the Raptors organization for the post-game jersey retirement ceremony.
The team is also giving one fan the chance to attend all three games. The Raptors say a contest for a pair of tickets to all three GROAT Nights will be announced on the team’s social media channels and website in the coming days.
