Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry had a season to remember in 2015-16. Here are the main highlights that stood out.
The Year That Was: Lowry solidified himself as an elite player this year being named a starter in the NBA all-star game for the second straight year, participating in the three-point competition and being named to the All-NBA Third Team. The line of 21.2 points, 6.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 42.7 per cent from the field, 38.8 per cent from deep in 77 games is much better than anyone could expect from the 30-year-old point guard.
Much was made of his struggles in the post-season but Lowry’s 19 points, six assists and 4.7 rebounds per game isn’t that far off from his regular season numbers against much tougher competition.
A streamlined Lowry, who lost weight to better survive the rigours of a long season that includes playoff basketball, was a much more efficient player. However an elbow injury that he actually hurt months prior overseas in London playing the Orlando Magic finally caught up with him and effected his performance down the stretch. So much so that Lowry was historically bad shooting the basketball in the first round versus Indiana.
That’s What He Said: “Every year it’s been fun because me, JV, DeMar and Terrence have been here and watched this organization grow.”
Off-season Outlook: Lowry wants to improve even further on his ball handling and distance shooting to lessen the pounding on his body playing among the trees in the paint.
His chief roll might be as a recruiter as not only is his good friend DeMar DeRozan going to test the free agent waters but now Lowry, solidifying himself as the face of the franchise, has become a player that opposing players around the league may want to team up with.
Moment of the Year: The half court hail Mary heave in Game 1 versus Miami that sent the game to overtime wasn’t the most meaningful because the Raptors ended losing the game, but it will be the one we remember years from now.
It didn’t fully get Kyle out of his post-season slump, it wasn’t the most pressure-filled as Lowry hit big shots to seal multiple games against the Heat and Cavaliers. However, anecdotally, years from now it will embody Lowry’s year because the sequence was improbable, wasn’t pretty, and he still figured out a way to will things his way.
Grade: A-