The Greatest Raptor of All-Time is set to make his return to Toronto for the second time as an opponent.
Kyle Lowry missed his first opportunity to return to Toronto as a member of the Heat last season due to personal reasons but the Raptors' former franchise player finally made his return on April 3.
When he takes the floor at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 16, it won't have all the bells and whistles that his first return game had, but Toronto's adopted son will surely still get plenty of love.
Ahead of Lowry's second matchup against the Raptors, the All-Star guard spoke to the media to talk about how this return differs from the first and the growth of his former teammates — O.G. Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet.
MORE: How the Kyle Lowry trade is paying off for the Raptors
Kyle Lowry's return to Toronto
On his second game back at Scotiabank Arena
Even though this return won't have the same auroa as his first time coming back to Toronto, there is no doubt that he will still get the same amount of love from Raptor faithfuls. Lowry admitted he doesn't have the nerves he felt ahead of his first game back last year, but he's always excited to be back in Toronto.
"It's always great to come home, always great to be in the city," he told the media, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg.
"Last year was definitely a lot of butterflies. Tonight, I'm sure I'll get a good ovation but it's a little different because it's not my first time."
On O.G. Anunoby's growing All-Defense campaign
Anunoby isn't typically the vocal type, but the Raptors defensive stopper has already made it clear that he wants to make a run at Defensive Player of the Year this season.
"Defensively, I've always wanted to be Defensive Player of the Year," Anunoby said earlier this season. "I've always thought I was the best defender in the league. I've felt that for the last — I don't know how many years."
Lowry vouched for Anunoby on that front ahead of their first matchup this season.
"I think OG’s always been a great defender. He’s been one of the best defenders in the league since he’s been in the league. Now, I just think he’s taking more pride in doing it because he’s getting the attention, which he should have been getting," Lowry stated.
On the growth of Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet
Since Lowry's departure, the Raptors have handed the keys of the franchise over to Siakam and VanVleet and the tandem has blossomed in their new roles.
Last season, Siakam put together the most impressive season of his career en route to his second All-NBA appearance and VanVleet filled Lowry's Greatest-Raptor-of-All-Time-sized shoes, taking over as the team's leader en route to his first All-Star appearance.
Lowry hasn't stopped keeping tabs on his former understudies, saying he still watches Raptors games all the time.
"I watch a lot of (Raptors) games. My guys are still on this team. I support my guys, Freddy, O.G., Pascal"
Lowry was once the veteran of all three of those budding stars — three of the four remaining players from the 2019 NBA championship team (with Chris Boucher being the fourth).
"I just like to watch how they've matured and become better individual basketball players and better men."
You can watch Lowry take on his former team at 7:30 p.m. ET on SN One.
