Lowry stays ‘home’, re-signs with Raptors

TORONTO — When Kyle Lowry pondered all of his basketball options, he says he kept coming back to the same place — Toronto.

The three-time all-star point guard is re-signing with the Raptors, announcing his decision on Sunday. The 31-year-old reportedly signed a three-year deal worth $100 million US.

His decision, he said, is all about finishing what he started.

“It was up to me to decide whether this thing we have — is it worth sticking around for, and running it back again, and seeing if we can take that next step,” Lowry said. “And like I said — to me, that was an easy decision. The answer is yes.”

“If you’re looking for people to believe in — choose the people who believed in you first,” Lowry wrote. “And if you start something? Man, you finish it.”

The announcement was good news for the Raptors, who will also have Serge Ibaka next season. The Raptors and Ibaka agreed earlier in the day to a three-year deal worth $65 million US.

Lowry averaged 22.4 points and seven assists last season, but missed 21 games late in the regular season after undergoing wrist surgery. He returned for the final four regular-season games, but had little time to gel with newcomers Ibaka and P.J. Tucker, who were acquired at February’s trade deadline to boost Toronto’s chances at capturing the Eastern Conference title.

“I don’t think we’ve reached our true potential,” Lowry added.

The Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round of the playoffs, but were swept by Cleveland in the conference semifinals.

“At the end of the day, this was an easy decision. And all of those roads . . . they all led me back to the same place: home. They all led me back to Toronto.”