Kyle Lowry’s 20th NBA Season Officially Begins with a Bang
Kyle Lowry’s 20th NBA season officially began on Sunday night in Brooklyn, and a corner three-pointer from the veteran point guard sparked pure jubilation among his Philadelphia 76ers teammates.
To someone only watching the visiting bench, it must have seemed like one of the most outstanding plays in recent NBA history had just occurred. The Sixers were finishing off a wire-to-wire victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday at Barclays Center. With just over a minute left on the clock, nearly every player not on the court erupted in celebration. It was pure jubilation on the corner of the floor — and they weren’t just reacting to any game-changing play.
They were celebrating 39-year-old Kyle Lowry officially beginning his 20th NBA season with a made shot.
After the game, every member of the team made available to the media was asked about that moment, Lowry’s two decades of experience, and what the future Hall of Famer means to the team — even with his true playing days likely behind him.
Here are some of the best quotes from the Sixers:
**Nick Nurse on Lowry’s Leadership Role**
“He’s really done a great job, I think, being part of our leadership group. And obviously players are pulling for him out there, you can see that he’s well-liked, well-respected and all that kind of stuff. It was good that he wanted to go in there. I guess he gets his 20th season officially in the books now by hitting the court. So that’s good too. Who would have thought that for Kyle Lowry 20 years ago, right?”
**Tyrese Maxey on Lowry’s Longevity**
“He old as hell. But he works out every day, works out hard every day. He’s in there with me early, he rebounds, he screens. He watches VJ [Edgecombe], he watches Jared [McCain]. What he’s doing for our team right now and he’s up cheering every single play like, that’s a Hall-of-Famer we’re talking about, you know what I’m saying? His jersey is probably getting retired in Toronto. And he’s up cheering for everybody and motivating people and talking in the locker room. Man, I’ve got nothing but love and respect for K-Low, and we appreciate having him.”
**Maxey on the Biggest Piece of Advice from Lowry**
“Lead. Lead. He’s, like, my leader. He comes to me and leads me, and I try to lead the team. So I couldn’t do this without him, honestly, right now. He calls me at least three or four times a day and we talk. But it’s good, though. I’m glad he’s here and I appreciate him and we appreciate him.”
**Quentin Grimes on Lowry’s NBA Experience**
“Been in the league 20 years, he’s seen it all. NBA championship. He knows what to look like out there, so when we’re out there not having the right energy or coming out a little flat, he’s in our ear to pump us up, bring us all together. He gives us a good speech before every game to get us right mentally. So he’s just been a great presence, a great big brother, an uncle for us. So it’s great to have a guy like that in the locker room.”
**Grimes on How Lowry Has Helped Him Personally**
“How to be a pro. It’s 20 years and then he still comes in before practice, stays after practice. Doesn’t do much practicing with us, but he’s a big-time voice and that matters a lot, contributes to the team and helps us win. So just seeing how he comes in every day prepared is definitely going to help me, I feel like, in the long run.”
**Trendon Watford on Lowry’s Longevity**
“Crazy, bro. Being able to do this. I was telling him, ‘Damn, I can’t even imagine doing this 15 more years,’ but I want to imagine it, though, because that’s what I want to do. Kyle is a great teammate, he’s been great for me, he’s been great for a lot of guys around here, so I was glad to see him hit a three.”
**Kelly Oubre Jr. on Lowry’s Impact**
“He’s a winner, man. He’s a pro. He’s done this at a very high level for a long time longer than VJ’s been alive. He’s just an inspiration, honestly. He’s done everything at the highest level that we all would wish to do, so just having him around and seeing him hit his first shot of the year, it just brings life into the team. And he’s our big brother, so we all root for him.”
Kyle Lowry’s debut three-pointer on Sunday may not have been a highlight destined for SportsCenter’s top plays, but for the Sixers, it marked a special moment—a testament to a seasoned veteran still contributing to a young and hungry team.
As Lowry officially embarks on his 20th NBA season, the respect and admiration from his teammates reflect the invaluable role he continues to play both on and off the court.