Point guard Kyle Lowry committed his future to the Toronto Raptors after agreeing to the terms of a contract extension, the NBA champions announced in a statement.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but reports say Lowry received a $ 31 million one-year extension, which will keep him with the Raptors through 2021.
The continuity of Lowry was a priority for the management of the Canadian team after the departure of forward Kawhi Leonard, declared Best Player of the past Finals, who signed for the Los Angeles Clippers after winning the championship.
Lowry, 33, could have become a free agent next July had he not agreed to an extension.
“Kyle has been at the center of all the successes our franchise has achieved over the past seven seasons,” Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said in a statement.
“He is a competitor, a winner at all levels and the engine that our players and our city feed on,” added the manager.
Lowry is now preparing for his eighth season with Toronto after playing a pivotal role alongside Leonard and promoting a Canadian team’s first NBA title.
The point guard finished the regular season with 8.7 assists and also scored 26 points in Game 6 of the Finals to close out the series.
“I am very proud of what we have accomplished with the Raptors, and I am happy that I can continue to call Toronto my home,” said Lowry.
“Bringing a championship to the city of Toronto and the country of Canada has been one of the best things I have done so far in my career, and I will fight for that goal every year I play,” he added.