What to know
- Sportscaster Matt Devlin says Kyle Lowry’s legacy goes beyond basketball, helping shape Toronto’s sports culture.
- Devlin credits the Raptors’ 2019 championship with accelerating basketball’s growth across Canada.
- He pointed to Canada’s growing NBA presence, including MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, as part of that legacy.
- Devlin hopes young athletes look to Lowry as an example of hard work and perseverance.
Matt Devlin, who has served as the Toronto Raptors television play-by-play announcer since 2008, was among those in attendance for Kyle Lowry’s retirement announcement Tuesday morning. Devlin believes Kyle Lowry’s greatest legacy isn’t just the Raptors’ 2019 championship, it’s how he helped transform basketball culture in Canada.
For Devlin, Lowry’s impact cannot be measured only by the numbers, the awards, or even the championship banner hanging at Scotiabank Arena. It is also about the culture he helped build and the example he set for the next generation of Canadian basketball players.
Devlin said he watched basketball’s popularity steadily grow during his time with the Raptors, but believes the Raptors’ championship run in 2019 changed the sport’s trajectory in Canada.
“When you think back to when I got here in 2008, and obviously the Vince Carter effect, but through all of that time the growth of the game certainly was significant,” Devlin said.
He said that momentum was “magnified during 2019,” when the Raptors captured the franchise’s first NBA title.
Devlin also highlighted how much Canadian talent has emerged on the international stage. He pointed to the presence of Canadian players in the NBA and the success of stars such as 2x NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as examples of how far the game has come.
“When you look at the NBA, and it’s been this way for a decade, outside of the United States, Canada has the second most players in the NBA,” Devlin said.
He also pointed to the arrival of the WNBA’s Toronto Tempo as another sign of the sport’s continued growth in Canada.
When asked about his favourite Raptors memory, Devlin didn’t hesitate.
“It’s got to be 2019,” he said.
The championship tops the list, though he also singled out Kawhi Leonard’s Game 7 buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers as one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history.
“If it wasn’t for the shot, yes, they may or may not have gotten to the Eastern Conference Finals… But to me, winning the NBA Finals is the ultimate.”
Looking ahead, Devlin hopes young athletes draw inspiration from Lowry’s career.
His advice is simple: “Keep working and stay committed.”
He noted basketball remains one of the most accessible sports to learn.
“As long as you have a ball, that’s all you really need,” he said, encouraging young players to keep practicing wherever they can.
And when it comes to describing Lowry’s career, Devlin believes the lesson is clear.
“Hard work and determination does ultimately win out,” he said.
It is a message that reflects Lowry’s career. One built on perseverance, leadership, and a commitment to the game. It is also a message that continues to shape the future of basketball in Canada.
