TORONTO — Greatest.
A loaded word because of the subjective feelings often attached.
It’s difficult to define what those eight letters put together fully encapsulate, especially within the theatre of sport.
Yet on a brisk Saturday morning in downtown Toronto, approximately 1,500 people came together to demonstrate exactly what greatest means to them.
A gathering held not for the Toronto Raptors' all-time leader in scoring and games played, DeMar DeRozan. Not even for the player who first thrilled fans north of the border in Vince Carter. And also not for the most talented player ever to wear the franchise's uniform in the recently re-acquired Kawhi Leonard.
Instead, everyone filled Maple Leaf Square (A.K.A. Jurrasic park) to celebrate Kyle Lowry, who, despite not having any of those superlatives attached to his resume, has been near-unanimously deemed the "greatest Raptor of all time" by both the fans and his peers.
Why all this — a Block Party to celebrate Lowry calling it a career — for a small guard from North Philly, who arrived in Toronto with a rough-around-the-edges attitude and was never known for lighting up the scoreboard? Of all the athletes to compete for a Toronto sports franchise, why was he now the fastest to have his jersey retired?
"The longevity, all the moments, and the stats as well, but the stats are only a little part of it. From start to finish, everything he brought," one fan who preferred to remain anonymous told Sportsnet. "I don't want to get too emotional, but ... I think for everyone, it's pretty clear."
Kuya Naredo, another fan who wound up winning tickets to "A Night For Seven," a charity gala and the final of three events celebrating Lowry over the weekend, echoed that sentiment.
"Kyle Lowry is the greatest Raptor of all time because that man is resilient. He did everything he could every day. He led Toronto, he led Canada and he led the Raptors."
And when Naredo was asked why he decided to attend Saturday morning's festivities, his answer was simple: "Community."
"(Lowry) brought Toronto together, and so we've got to come together for him."
Saturday was just the latest example of fans piling in front of Scotiabank Arena for Lowry and the Raptors.
"We started this, the whole Jurassic Park thing," the six-time all-star boasted while addressing the crowd. "Everybody wants to have their own little version, but take pride in knowing we were the first to do this.”
And so the "community" Lowry brought together once again then spent over three hours gathered on Saturday, exploring No. 7-themed exhibits the organization had on display — including a commemorative Raptor statue — while listening to former teammates of the franchise icon speak on his lasting impact, which earned him GROAT status.
"He’s an architect of the culture that eventually put the team on the mountaintop," C.J. Miles, who played in Toronto between 2017-19, said while addressing the crowd. "I think someone who is that embedded into a city, an organization, a team, and to be able to give his all to something like that, and it reflects him, I think that's what makes him the greatest Raptors of all time."
Danny Green, who won a title with the Raptors in 2019, took it a step further.
"(Lowry is) one of the best players to come through our league. For a guy that size to play 20 years, one of the best teammates I've ever had ... I wouldn't miss this for the world."
High praise considering Green also won a title alongside the likes of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs, and later with LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
But it's also not surprising, considering the mark both Lowry and the city of Toronto have left on not only Green but just about every other player who spoke on Saturday. From Chuck Hayes and Terrence Ross to Miles, Green and Fred VanVleet, the phrase "best fans in the league" was repeated in earnest on multiple occasions.
Only one of Lowry's teammates didn't echo those words, and it was the one who never played for the Raptors.
"I know this is Kyle's day, but isn't this 'LeBronto?'" joked Kevin Love, who spent time with Lowry as members of the Heat, but also battled the Raptors guard many times when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It was the lone moment of the day when boos replaced cheers, but it was short-lived as the crowd began roaring praise once Lowry's longest — and closest — running mate hit the stage.
DeMar DeRozan was the final player to address Saturday morning's crowd, and his message was clear: "It means the world to me to be able to be here to celebrate ... the guy who finished this thing off. He's definitely the greatest Raptor of all time. The things he's been able to do for this city are amazing."
And what did the man of the hour think of all the celebration and fanfare, which included not just kind words from his peers and roaring applause from fans, but also an impromptu key to the city from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow?
"Humbled by it," Lowry said.
"When we put this plan together, (a block party) was one of the things I wanted to do to show love to the fans, honestly, because they mean everything. This basketball thing wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for them. It turned out exactly how I thought it would. I appreciate the fans coming out here. I appreciate the Raptors organization for allowing this to happen and putting forth such an amazing effort and making this weekend spectacular."
Lowry wasn't the only one to notice just how far above and beyond the Raptors organization and city went in celebrating him.
Green groups Toronto with San Antonio as "the top two organizations that take care of the players, look out for the players ... while you're there, the city, the fans, nothing like it. So, again, I can't praise the city or the fans enough about how special they make us feel."
VanVleet, who took over the mantle of Raptors' floor general once Lowry was dealt to the Heat back in 2021 and is now with the Houston Rockets (but still calls Toronto "home"), explained that "as a player, you put so much time and sacrifice, blood, sweat, tears into your craft and your game, you play every night, and so to see that paid back now at the end of his career, it's just a special day. This is what sports is about, and we know what he means to this country, and so it's always just nice to see that it is paid back."
And Lowry hopes the way he's been recognized can serve as a blueprint for when it's time to celebrate other franchise greats.
"Hopefully we're doing this again at some point when (DeRozan's) No. 10 is going up in the rafters. That 10 has to go up there."
Until then, however, "right now is Kyle's moment," as Green explained, while reaffirming Lowry's status as the franchise's figurehead.
"DeMar will have his moment at some point, Kawhi will have his moment, but we're here to celebrate the greatest Raptor of all time and give him his flowers."
So fans did just that, serenading Lowry with cheers, as each wave of gratitude persuaded him to stay that much longer to sign more autographs and take pictures. And while the "GROAT" chants did plenty to keep Lowry's attention, the "one more year" pleas by the Raptors faithful ultimately fell on deaf ears.
"Great chant, love it. Not gonna happen.” Lowry said with a smirk.
He then delivered one final message, still uplifting the fanbase that did the same for him during his nine years in Toronto.
"Continue to be the best fans that you've been. Continue to rule the league in attendance. Continue to be you, unapologetically be you ... and hopefully there's another championship that comes through here, and I can be a part of that celebration with this organization and that group."
And with that, the celebrations came to a close.
For now, at least. They'll pick back up in the lead-up to Jan. 10, when LeBron James and Lowry's hometown Philadelphia 76ers come to town the night No. 7 officially goes up in the Scotiabank Arena rafters next to Carter's No. 15.
Talk about a pretty good send-off. Maybe even the greatest.
