Kyle Lowry was one of the first people to find out Kawhi Leonards’ decision this offseason. Although Leonard’s departure to the Los Angeles Clippers is a significant blow for the Raptors, Lowry is not mad at Leonard and he said that he’s thrilled that Leonard returned home to California. For the second straight year, after DeMar DeRozan moved to the San Antonio Spurs, Lowry was left without a fellow superstar. However, he is still ecstatic with Toronto’s achievement last season, saying that he’s not worried.
“No, not at all,” Lowry said. “Not at all. We are champions. No matter what. [It will] never be taken away from us. Ever. Ever, ever. Ever, ever.”
Kyle Lowry's still feeling good about the Raptors' chances minus the Finals MVP. 🇨🇦 🏆 🏀 pic.twitter.com/GjsVxOHtBj
— theScore (@theScore) August 6, 2019
At Team USA’ s training camp in Las Vegas, Lowry spoke about Leonard’s decision to move and team up with Paul George on the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I’m happy for you,” Lowry said about Leonard. “… I am happy for the guys that … especially a guy that helped do something fantastic and something great. He’s an unbelievable friend of mine and is a good guy. He made a decision to go home and he is happy with that and I am happy for him. Truly. I am genuinely happy for him. It gives him a chance to be around his family and friends. You got to respect the guy and be happy for him.”
Even though the Raptors are left without the NBA Finals MVP, Lowry would love to stay in Toronto in the future. He will become a free agent next summer.
“I want to be there — I would love to do a long [term] extension, but we’ll see what happens,” Lowry said. “I’m here for USA Basketball and support the guys and be around the group.” “[But] I would love to be there long term, but we’ll have that discussion when the time is right.”
Kyle Lowry tells @SInow that he has had no conversations with the Raptors about his future. Says he is open to signing an extension and would like to be in Toronto long term.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) August 5, 2019
Toronto will also have to deal with Pascal Siakam’s extension after the Cameroonian impressed last year and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.
“He going to get paid,” Lowry said about Siakam. “What else do you want to hear from me? He going to get paid … For a guy like that, you just got to keep improving and keep it going.”
