Lowry wants to better with age
After re-signing, NBA all-star is more determined than ever to prove his critics wrong
HONOLULU— Kyle Lowry sits back against a wall in the sweatbox that is the auxiliary gym on the campus of the University of Hawaii, the accoutrements of post-practice life — ice for knees and his back, bandages to keep them in place — all around him.
He’s just finished a two-hour workout, going hard because he goes hard all the time, and recalls a summer when he dedicated himself to not just being an NBA all-star who got paid, but an NBA all-star who got paid and is trying to discover ways to expand his already-prodigious skills.
It is the kind of inner drive that’s made the Raptors point guard one of the mostly highly-paid players in the league. That money is a reward for what he’s done but he also sees it as a challenge to improve.
“I’m painted as one of the better players in the league so I want to be one of the best in the league, I want to continue to be great,” the 31-year-old Lowry said. “I don’t want it to be ‘oh, he got paid’ and that’s it. I want to continue to outgrow my contract, that’s always my goal.”
It was a tumultuous summer for Lowry, one during which he said he withdrew a bit to give serious thought to his future. He had come off a horrid end to the 2016-17 season. He missed the last 2 1⁄ games of
2 Toronto’s sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers because of an ankle injury and found himself on the free agent market. He had a strong affinity for the Raptors but owed it to his family and himself to seek other offers; few came, primarily because the Minnesota Timber- wolves were scared off a big money deal because of tax considerations and the drying up of the point guard market. He ended up with a threeyear deal with Toronto that could pay him in the neighbourhood of $100 million (U.S.) — in the top five earners among NBA point guards.
“It’s kind of like putting your whole life in a bubble,” he said of the process. “You’re not worried about anything but yourself and your family and continuing to get better.
“You’re not worried about the outside world or basketball . . . you have to be a little bit selfish. This summer I think I was a lot more selfish than I have been before.”
With the big contract come big expectations and Lowry is fully aware of what he means to the Raptors and what the expectations for him are across the league. A three-time allstar now being asked to play a slightly different role — more off the ball, more three-point shooting, less isolation — on a team that’s changing its offensive bent.
“I know people say you’re getting older, you’re not supposed to be getting better, I don’t believe that,” he said. “I believe you can always get better every single year until you retire.”
Lowry’s play so far in the pre-season has been as expected. Teammates laud him for efforts in scrimmages, he’s in as good condition as he’s ever been and the time spent in that summer “bubble” and the riches he’s earned haven’t changed him in the least.
“He has been super, he’s been working his butt off, he’s in great condition . . . He’s done fantastic,” coach Dwane Casey said.
“If he made $300 million, he’s still going to be the tough, ornery competitor that he is, which has made him what he is today. He doesn’t want to lose that and he hasn’t.”