Former Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry wore an unusual outfit in his return to Scotiabank Arena with the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Lowry, the 20-year NBA veteran who spent nine seasons with the Raptors, made his return to the stadium wearing an Auston Matthews Toronto Maple Leafs uniform.
“You guys know Auston, I don’t know how long he’s been here [in Toronto] now, but [it feels like] he’s been here literally the whole time with me,” Lowry said speaking to reporters in the locker room before the game on Sunday. “I respect the hell out of Auston, and we have a mutual relationship.”
Lowry's teammates clearly aren't accustomed to the big crowd around his locker & a few of them joined the party.
Kyle also explained why he wore an Auston Matthews jersey to the game: "I respect the hell out of (him)... I appreciate him & I wanted to show support for the city" pic.twitter.com/ljeYswQmnW
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 11, 2026
Lowry played in Toronto from 2012-21, where he was named an All-Star six times and helped guide the team to its only title in the 2019 season. Considered by many as the greatest Raptor of all time, Lowry and Matthews overlapped as stars of their respective Toronto franchises for five years.
The 39-year-old Lowry is widely expected to retire at the end of this season, as his playing time has dwindled significantly in his old age with the 76ers. He has played in just five games this season.
With the 76ers in Toronto for a back-to-back on Sunday and Monday, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse (who coached the Raptors to their title in 2019 and spent five years as the head coach in Toronto) is expected to sub Lowry in at some point in either of those games to give the franchise legend a chance for a final sendoff in front of fans at Scotiabank Arena.
“You know I had to pay the tribute to my city,” Lowry added. “I’m a Maple Leafs guy, and Auston, that’s a great jersey ... I appreciate him and I wanted to show support for the city.”
Lowry told reporters before the game that his intention is to “sign a one-day contract and retire as a Raptor.”
Lowry has averaged just 8.6 minutes and 1.2 points per game in his five appearances this season with the 76ers. Across nine seasons in Toronto, the Philadelphia native averaged 17.5 points, 7.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game across 601 contests.