Analyzing Kyle Lowry's Return to Philadelphia: What to Expect

Six-time All-Star and NBA champion Kyle Lowry recently signed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for the remainder of the 2023-2024 season after reaching a buyout with the Charlotte Hornets. The 18-year veteran returns home to Philadelphia, where he attended Cardinal Dougherty High School and played college basketball at nearby Villanova University. The signing comes on the heels of a flurry of moves that left the Sixers bench shorthanded and needing a boost. 

At the age of 37, Kyle Lowry is not the player he once was with the Toronto Raptors where he was named to six consecutive All-Star games and an All-NBA team in 2016.

Lowry is averaging just 8.2 points to go along with 4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, all of which are his lowest marks since 2010 with the Houston Rockets. With that being said, Lowry is still shooting a respectable 43% from the field and 39% from three-point range, both of which are above his career averages of 42% and 37% respectively. This shows that even though his volume is down, his efficiency from the field is still solid. Lowry’s value on the defensive end has diminished, however, he is still averaging just over a steal per game which shows he can still affect the game defensively.

For the Sixers, Lowry will provide much-needed depth and his veteran leadership will be valuable as the team enters the second half of the season.

With Furkan Korkmaz, Patrick Beverley, and Jaden Springer out of the mix, the Sixers needed an extra guard and with Lowry available, the move makes perfect sense. Lowry will give you an occasional spot start and will be a good mentor for players such as Tyrese Maxey, and DeAnthony Melton and two-way players such as Ricky Council IV and Terquavion Smith. He won’t shoot the lights out by any means and likely won’t win you any games on his own at this point in his career but he has a chance to provide a spark to the second unit. 

It remains to be seen if Lowry will see playoff minutes if the Sixers hang on to their playoff spot.

His experience and leadership make him a viable candidate for the postseason roster, however, with Tyrese Maxey, DeAnthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Cameron Payne all fighting for minutes, Lowry will have to prove that he belongs when it matters most. His relationship with Nick Nurse, who he played for in Toronto, gives him an advantage however there is still no guarantee that he stays in the mix beyond the regular season. 

Kyle Lowry’s return to the City of Brotherly Love adds another intriguing chapter to his storied career. While he is no longer the focal point of the offense, he provides the Sixers with toughness and grit and his veteran leadership will go a long way for a team that lost a lot of tenacity at the deadline. He still has something left in the tank and he will look to prove this the rest of the way as the Sixers look to compete for their first championship since 1983.