Kyle Lowry, 76ers Agree to 1-Year Contract in NBA Free Agency Amid Clippers Rumors

After getting the chance to play for his hometown team during the 2023-24 season, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry is reportedly staying put this summer.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Lowry agreed to re-sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year deal on Thursday. The Philadelphia native had originally joined the team on a $2.8 million deal for the remainder of last season after receiving a contract buyout from the Charlotte Hornets in February.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on June 23 that Lowry “is widely expected to re-sign with the 76ers,” so his decision isn’t much of a surprise.

However, there was at least some buzz surrounding the Los Angeles Clippers prior to this decision.

Lowry began the 2023-24 season with the Miami Heat before he was sent to Charlotte as part of the deal that allowed Miami to acquire point guard Terry Rozier. It was expected that he would be bought out by Charlotte upon his acquisition, and the Villanova alum chose to return to his roots.

Lowry played 23 games for the Sixers with 20 starts last season and averaged 8.0 points, 4.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range. He also started all six of Philadelphia’s playoff games in the first-round series against the New York Knicks, which the Sixers lost 4-2.

A first-round pick in the 2006 NBA draft, Lowry has also suited up for the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors in his lengthy career, winning an NBA championship in 2019 with the latter. He was selected to six straight All-Star Games from 2015 to 2020 and was one of the best two-way point guards in the league during his prime thanks to his defensive prowess.

By re-signing Lowry, the Sixers are retaining a veteran presence who should provide leadership in the locker room while also being a mentor to rising point guard Tyrese Maxey and someone who can distribute the ball to Joel Embiid and Paul George.