Kyle Lowry: ‘I miss everything about this city, this country, this organization'

Raptors legend Kyle Lowry returned to Toronto on Sunday for the first time since being traded to the Miami Heat. He discussed what he misses about playing in Toronto, how impressed he’s been with the Raptors this season, what the transition to Miami has been like for him and his family, and much more.

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Video Transcript

KYLE LOWRY: All right. Let me take this off for y'all. What's up, everybody? - How are you, Kyle. KYLE LOWRY: Great, how you all doing? - Questions in the room. - [INAUDIBLE] KYLE LOWRY: Something special. You know, I was like, I'm going home. So, let me wear something that I felt like I've brought home, and you know, it's special to me, and the country, and the city, and the organization. So, why not wear it? - Was there a moment today when you truly felt back during the day today? KYLE LOWRY: No. It was-- when I landed last night, driving down the Gardiner and seeing all the different, points, seeing the CN Tower, right past OVO. Seeing the BMO Field and all that stuff, you know you kind of get like, damn. That's crazy. That's really where it's home, the place I was for a long, long time. So, yeah, it was pretty cool. - You've been in there now, but is it going to be weird to be in the visitor's room? KYLE LOWRY: I was in there just now. No, it's not weird, but it's going to be weird because I was here a visitor, year-- oh, damn-- a long time ago. But I'm looking forward to just being in the moment and kind of-- I never let myself really stay in the moment as much as for this celebration. So I'll let myself be a little bit. But at the same time, I still got a basketball game to play. And as a competitor, I know the competitiveness is going to come out so I'm going to try to win it. But I'm going to enjoy this moment and enjoy being here. - How much over the past few months has this gone through your head as to how it was going to be, or how you wanted it to be? KYLE LOWRY: It wasn't a lot because I was dealing with some other things. So you know, it was something-- I was supposed to have been back here in February. Unfortunate circumstances didn't allow that, but it's kind of like one of the things where everything happens for a reason. This game is important for Toronto. It's important for us. It's one of those games where like, two teams trying to playoff position. It was like kind of perfect timing. But thinking about it, I didn't let myself think about it as much because I was like, I don't know if it's going to happen. Because I missed every game against Toronto this year. So I didn't let myself think about it too much. - Are you surprised by how well they've played? KYLE LOWRY: Guys like Freddy, All-NBA, and Pascal, OG, Gary Trent, Jr. You know, Scottie Barnes, Nick Nurse, and these guys are champions. They're competitors. They're guys who still have chips on their shoulders, and they're still young. And there you go. Yeah, I look better than you today. I look better than you, way better than you, Dan. I feel like I seen, I feel like I've seen that suit before. Yeah. But those guys, I don't expect anything less than what they've been doing. - Now, is there anything you've missed in particular from playing. It's nice to see you, by the way. KYLE LOWRY: Always good to see you. I miss everything about the city, the country, the organization. It's a lot to miss. It's a lot of things that I ain't going to remember. I was a player in the city for eight years. I played for the Organization for nine years. It's a lot of things to miss. You know, my kids grew here, and they got they got to come up early to go see their friends. They'll say-- they've been here since Friday. And they went to a hockey game today, so they haven't gone to a hockey game in Miami. A little too warm for that, but like it's a lot of things that you just continue, you miss. You miss to see the people that you've grown to know, the relationships that you've built. Honestly, you know I've given you guys, the media here, great times, hard times. But you know, I miss you guys because you guys are always fair to me. And you know, you miss a lot of things about it. - Does this Raptors team in any way remind you of that 13, 14 team where you guys sort of launched that, that run that you had there? KYLE LOWRY: No, because they've been-- this team down there, they're way better than what we were. We just ended up fighting and getting better as the season went on. These guys are really good. They're different. They're athletic. They play hard. They're smart. You know, Nick has done a great job of doing what he's done. And but you know, we've had a year, a off year. You know, Toronto had the off year of missing the playoffs the one year, and it was just a weird year last year. But they're right back where they expected to be. - You said, I think, when you joined Miami that you thought that you might tear up when you got back here for the first time. Do you have to fight it tonight, do you think? KYLE LOWRY: Oh, no. I doubt it. I'm not going to let you see me cry just because you are here. And I'm like, no. And then I know if I cry, DeMar will make fun of me. And it's going to be all, it's going to go viral and all that stuff. So no, I won't do that. But that being said, my kids are going to be with me. And you know, I don't know. The video I'm sure, it's going to be crazy. It's going to be good. You know, it's the one thing is I'll see how I am, but I'm going to hold back as much as I can. - What would you like to see in that video? KYLE LOWRY: I don't know. I'm just happy. I'm happy, I'm happy I'm getting a video. - Can I ask you, just think about Fred and his 3 point shooting. He's real-- KYLE LOWRY: I know. - --I'm not going to say anything. KYLE LOWRY: Oh, listen. - But can you just speak a little bit on his evolution as a shooter because he talked about working out with you, and how that-- you kind of helped him do it. KYLE LOWRY: Yeah. No, we always talk about it. He's like, man-- and this is the one conversation we had-- like bro, you know I took everything you did with that first training camp, your footwork, how you do this, how you do that. And even two summers ago, when we got to work out together, we were talking about-- he asked me how to do this and that. And I know I've been keeping count of how many he needs, and I'm looking forward to him breaking it. I hope it doesn't-- it would be cool for it to happen. And I think, listen, if you do it tonight, great. As long as I win. But I'm actually looking forward to that moment. And you know if it happens tonight, it'd be great for me to be able to give them a standing ovation, like everyone else in the crowd would be. And the evolution of his game, you know he's become a guy that is really a cornerstone to a franchise, which I always believed he could be. And you know, with that being-- him being a shooter, that's what he does. He's really become one of those guys where he's a threat as soon as he walks in the gym, and that's a testament to the hard work, and who he is. - Do you have any memories of your last game here as a Raptor way back February, 2020? KYLE LOWRY: I'm gonna be honest. I don't even remember who we played, or what that was. Anybody can remind me? - You played Charlotte. KYLE LOWRY: Which one was that? Was the buzzer game? - Before going out West. KYLE LOWRY: The what? - Just before you went out West. KYLE LOWRY: I know. What happened in the game? Did we win? - No. - No, you lost. KYLE LOWRY: Then I don't remember it. [LAUGHTER] - How important was it for you that your leaving was kind of-- that you're able to come back and the feeling's just so good on both sides? And not that they wouldn't be, but that your departure was so amicable, not awkward at all. KYLE LOWRY: That's due to the respect that I earned, but that's also the relationship I created with Masai, Bobby, Larry, the Raptors organization. We all were in conversations at all times about everything. And it's just, they looked at me like, someone that they was like, listen. You helped build this thing. We will never disrespect you in any type of way. And I felt the same way. So we wanted to do it the right way. And it was just time. It was like naturally a good phase out into, hey, you did everything you could do here. Could have won another championship if I wanted to. Hopefully I would have, but I didn't. But it was time for the next phase, and that's for Freddy, Pascal, OG to take their next step. So it was like one of those things where it wasn't like, he's old and can't play anymore. He was just like, listen. It was time, and it worked out perfectly for everybody. And like I said, when you've given so much to a franchise, and they've given you so much, you want to see them be successful. However that is. - You're not old? KYLE LOWRY: I'm not Doug old. I'm old, I'm not Douggie old. Hey, Doug. Hey, good to see you. I'm still younger than Alvin Williams though. Hey, shots fired, Elvis. You shouldn't have came. - I have it last. KYLE LOWRY: No, you don't. I have it last after the game. Let's play one-on-one. OK. - You're obviously a big part of the culture that's been established here. Was there a moment where after you established yourself individually, and where you went, hey, this is what it takes to be a Raptor, and this is what I want to be part [INAUDIBLE]? KYLE LOWRY: It kind of came with who I was. I never like said, oh, this, that. I think being a Raptor kind of just was like who I was. Me, DeMar, we helped build something from who we were. Played hard. We couldn't care about anything but winning. And that's where it just kind of just continuously, gradually grew from that. It wasn't like, oh, I want to be this, and now this is. No. It's kind of just, we were who we were, and the organization kind of took on our mode. And now just continues to take on another mode. And it just continues to take on a mode of winning. And that's what it's all about. It's about winning and taking your franchise to the next level. And I can say I was a part of helping that and growing that, and it's a good feeling to know. - Kyle, [INAUDIBLE] advice for Pascal at the end of last year, just in terms of processing the criticism, bouncing back from it, dealing with it. And you obviously know what he's dealt with over the last couple of years. What's it been like to see him not only get back to the level that he was at, but exceed it this season? KYLE LOWRY: I mean, I said it. I told you what he's going to do. I said he's going to use everything that people said, even if he didn't use it to become him. And nothing's changed. You just had maybe a year that he was just a little bit uncomfortable. He wasn't in a situation. He was-- but he thrived this year. He showed what he is. He showed how he, what he really can be, and what he is. And that's just know how hard of a worker he is. And you know, it takes a special young man to have a year like he had and have everybody here, the things that he's heard, and watched everybody talk bad about him, and then come back and say, yeah, now what? And that's a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. And you know P don't talk about it much, but he just does it. So I'm proud of him. - What makes this building so special to you? KYLE LOWRY: It's a place I called home for a long time. I won a lot of basketball games here. I set a lot of records here. I got a banner hanging up in there. It's just a place that-- I am old. It was ACC when I first got here. Now it's Scotiabank. Damn. Yeah, I was here when they changed the name and all type of stuff. You know, we got a big deal from Scotiabank. So, yeah, can I get some of that money? No, it's just a special place. Like I said, it's not my homebuilding anymore, but it's a place I'll always call home. - How different has been being a member of the Heat compared to the last nine been for you in terms of your journey throughout [INAUDIBLE]? It's kind of been some personal stuff but [INAUDIBLE]. KYLE LOWRY: It's been fairly easy because I'm always going to be myself, no matter what jersey I got on. No matter what city it is, I'm still going to go out there and try to win a game, play my best, play hard, do what I need to do to help my help my team and whatever organization I'm with win and win at the highest level. So you know it hasn't been the it's been a smooth transition because I'm always going to be who I am. It's different, yes. But at the same time, you know, it's about basketball and about winning. - [INAUDIBLE] the games when you're playing against him? How either excited or proud are you of the season DeMar has had? KYLE LOWRY: You know, everybody talk trash about him. Sometimes-- like, he was like one of the last big free agents to be signed, and now look what he's doing. He's about to-- he's almost closing in on 20,000 points. I think he's going to get it this year. Hopefully, he can get it this year, but it's just-- it's a brother of mine. And you know, it's just like when someone in your family, or your friends, or someone close to you shuts people up and shows what he is. And it's like, that's what he does. For me it's not like, oh, my God. It's just like, I mean, that's what he does. I've watched this before. I've seen this I've seen this movie before. I think it's just now that he's getting to-- he took a team that was kind of on the cusp of this, that, and the other to being a top tier team, and he became an all-Star. He will be an all NBA player. But I'm just happy for him because he's able to say, now what? So that's how I feel about that. - Is this your best season? KYLE LOWRY: Individual stats wise, maybe. I'm not sure. I think every season he plays is his best season to be honest. - What are you expecting tonight from this defense and Nick Nurse scheme? Are you-- you mentioned the other night he's going to throw some crazy at you. KYLE LOWRY: I don't know. Nick, Nick won't let me score tonight. I mean, listen. Has anybody that Nick played here that's come back had a good game? Exactly. So, I know Nick is not going to let me have one of my nights, but we'll see what happens. I'm up for the challenge. - We're on the triple double in San Antonio right now. KYLE LOWRY: It was in San Antonio. It's different. - What do you think of the growth of Precious this year, obviously him coming the other way? What do you make of the growth of his game? KYLE LOWRY: I think him expanding his game to the 3-point line and being able to put the ball down a little bit more, it's been good for him. And that's one of the things where I think Nick and the coaching staff has done is give them the confidence to do that, to step outside of his comfort zone and be different. But you know, it's just like a young kid just getting a new situation and being able to kind of blossom a little more. And it's going to be-- it's great for him to be in that position, to come here and change, and be a different type of player, and be more successful. - Well what's the transition been like for your kids going from a place that they called home? KYLE LOWRY: They wear shorts and t-shirts every day. My kids are great. My kids are awesome. They originally was like, no, no. And you know, I think they just kind of-- I talk to them. And the good thing about now in this age of technology is great. So they still talk to their friends all the time. They want to FaceTime, and play the game with them, and "Roblox," and "Fortnite," all that stuff. So they're still able to talk to their friends, but I think the transition has been easy. I mean, they're kids, and they're good kids. So you know, they make good friends. - You know who they're cheering for tonight? KYLE LOWRY: Say that again? - Who are they cheering for tonight? KYLE LOWRY: Daddy, duh. Duh. - Kyle, how important is it to you to get a title before-- KYLE LOWRY: [INAUDIBLE] You know, it's the goal of any time I step on the floor. Any time I start in season is to win the trophy. Any time. And you know, this right here, it's just a reminder of how hard it is, and how special it is. And that's the only goal is to try to be the last team standing. So, it's important. That's, that's what I play for is to try to win it all. - The situation right now is like, you think you're in a good position? KYLE LOWRY: Yeah, I mean, that's what we put the team together for, like I just said. - Hey, Kyle. Going back to the question about the culture you helped build here. When you see these guys, and how hard they play every night, does that kind of remind you of some of the best teams you were on here? KYLE LOWRY: Yeah, they play hard every night. They're all over the place. They scramble. They're athletic. They help each other very well. They don't give up much. It Reminds me a lot of just the teams that when we were down 15 in the fourth quarter, we found ways to win games. And scrap and claw and find and fight to win the game, and that's what these guys do. There's never a moment where they just don't feel like they can't win a game. - How much of that is Fred? Like, a lot of time, teams take on the personality of a best player. For so many years, it was you. Does that, does that feel like a personality trait that this team has? KYLE LOWRY: Yeah. He just as sure is one of their team. It's definitely that. It's definitely a lot of the Freddie stubbornness, the better yourself, and no doubt in anything you do. And that's just, that's what a leader does. The team takes on hit their personality, and that's what he's been doing the last couple of years. And now it's his chance-- it was his chance to be the guy, and he's doing that at a high level, and it's pretty cool to watch. - How much does it surprise you that Chris Boucher [INAUDIBLE] taking charges? KYLE LOWRY: It doesn't. He's like 10 pounds, so people just run him over. But Chris has had a great year. His energy, every time I watch him, his energy has been great. Running the floor hard, shot blocking, and Chris is just the guy is just-- he's going to do whatever it takes to help the team once he gets going. And he's been going all year, which is cool to see. And you all know him. He's funny as heck. But just him sacrificing his body, I know it hurts, but that's pretty cool to see. - How would you compare the two cultures, Miami and Toronto? Similar? Different? KYLE LOWRY: It's, it's me. So, it's kind of-- it's Kyle, so-- kind of-- coaches. - Well, they had a culture before-- KYLE LOWRY: They Do have culture It's a great culture up there. It's a great culture. And like I said, it's about hard work and professionalism. But you know, I'm always going to do me, and be who I am. And you know, it's great. They're both great franchises. There's great coaches. And there's great players, great organizations, and coaches, and places to be. - Do you want to tell us about your fantastic suit? KYLE LOWRY: It's pretty awesome, and I look, and I look great in it. Right, Al? I got to do a one-- I appreciate your time. I got to do a one-on-one with Alvin Williams. I appreciate you guys. I miss you, and I'll see you after the game. Thank you.