Jared McCain made sure Kyle Lowry got his respect as the veteran guard’s NBA run nears its end.
Lowry, now 40, is reportedly set to sign a ceremonial one-day contract with the Toronto Raptors so he can retire with the team where he made his name. That’s the franchise where he put together his best stretch, becoming a six-time All-Star over nine seasons and leading Toronto through its strongest era, one that finished with a Larry O'Brien trophy in 2019.
The timing is a little wild. Lowry’s retirement comes only days after the Raptors brought back Kawhi Leonard in a summer blockbuster with the LA Clippers. Leonard, 35, remains one of the league’s top talents and averaged a career-high 27.9 points last season.
Lowry’s path has been one of the league’s most complete arcs: journeyman, All-Star, then franchise icon. And in the final stage of that journey, he’s also become a mentor. That showed up with McCain, who spent his first 1.5 seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers before moving on.
McCain, who has built a big following on social media, used Snapchat to salute Lowry as retirement talk surfaced. It was a fitting gesture from a player who had already seen plenty of highs and lows early in his NBA life.
He came out hot enough to flirt with Rookie of the Year buzz, but a torn meniscus cut short his rookie season in Dec. 2024.
A torn thumb ligament then stalled the start of his sophomore year, and he eventually slipped down the depth chart.
Later, the Oklahoma City Thunder landed McCain in a buy-low move that ended up paying off three months after the deal. He then helped them push the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, even with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell out for the back half of that series.
It’s the kind of locker-room thread fans rarely get to see up close: a veteran in the twilight of his career helping shape the next wave. Lowry did that for McCain, and McCain’s farewell message made that clear.
In Other News...
Thunder May Be Denying Cason Wallace The Role He Wants
Cason Wallace already looks like one of Oklahoma Citys most important young pieces, and last seasons All-Defensive Second Team nod only reinforced how quickly he has earned trust on that end of the floor. He is also eligible for a rookie extension, which makes his next step more than just a development question for the Thunder. Wallace has made it clear he wants a bigger on-court role, and there is a real case for him to push for more than the steady reserve minutes he has handled so far.
The problem for Wallace is that the roster seems to be tilting in a direction that keeps him in the same lane for now. Oklahoma Citys recent moves point toward continuity in the backcourt, even as the depth chart around him changes, and that could leave him as a key scoring option off the bench rather than a starter. For the Thunder, that arrangement may still make sense, since a larger reserve role could help Wallace sharpen his game, boost his value, and set up a more interesting negotiation down the road. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Williams Offers Thunder Fans A Brutal Warning In Brunson Situation
Jalen Brunsons wrist injury has put a familiar kind of cautionary tale back in the spotlight for Thunder fans, because Jalen Williams went through a similar ordeal and learned how tricky the road back can be. Williams played through a dominant shooting wrist issue during Oklahoma Citys title run, and his experience showed that even when a player is able to stay on the floor, the injury can linger in ways that affect everything from shot-making to overall rhythm.
Williams recovery also served as a reminder that the first games after a return do not always look like a clean reset. The broader point for Oklahoma City is simple enough: wrist injuries can be unpredictable, timelines can stretch, and getting back into the lineup is not the same thing as immediately getting back to peak form. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Face Another Huge Cason Wallace Decision This Offseason
The July moratorium has passed, but there still has not been any public update on a rookie extension for Cason Wallace, leaving one of Oklahoma Citys quieter offseason questions unresolved. The Thunder have shown a willingness to move deliberately after the moratorium before, and with the front office signaling a desire to keep the core together, Wallace remains part of a roster puzzle that is still being sorted out.
Wallace has given the Thunder plenty to think about after a career-best season that included All-Defensive Second Team recognition, and he is now heading into the final year of his rookie deal with bigger responsibilities in mind. He wants a full-time starting role, but the path to that kind of jump is not simple, and the next few decisions around the backcourt could say a lot about how Oklahoma City sees his place in the long term. [Read more 🡒]