What does the future hold for Chris Paul?

What does the future hold for Chris Paul? by Jamie Campbell

The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions – and no one deserves the glory, joy, or vindication more than Kyle Lowry

There were so many junctures that should have spelled the end.

Kyle Lowry‘s name has been symbiotic with derogatory labels for years. Toronto’s postseason shortcomings were largely – and often, unfairly – heaped upon number 7’s shoulders.

But such labels will now cease to exist. Lowry is an NBA champion.

To persevere, remain level headed, and come out of it all atop the heap is something almost completely unprecedented.

It’s greatness.

It’s easy to say that now, of course. Past memories will fade and falter. Shortcomings – forgotten. Previous heartbreaks – vanquished.

But what Lowry has experienced and fought through to reach this point borders on inconceivable. His journey from trade chip to championship-winning point guard is tear-jerkingly inspirational.

Failure after failure, heartbreak after heartbreak. That was the story of Lowry’s career. It defined him – followed him like the plague.

Every year was a familiar tale. The Toronto Raptors would be great October through April – the ball fizzing around, Lowry and DeMar DeRozan carving up opposing defenses, Dwane Casey delivering masterclasses from the sideline night in, night out.

But then came May.

In 2015 it was the Washington Wizards. The 4th seed Raptors were convincingly swept, with both Lowry and DeRozan putting forth porous displays over the course of the series.

In 2016, the King reigned supreme – and rightfully so. The Raptors put up an admirable fight in those Eastern Conference Finals, taking LeBron James‘ Cleveland Cavaliers to six games. Lowry scored 35 in both Game’s 4 and 6, in what was individually an up and down playoff run.

It was more of the same in 2017. James and Kyrie Irving ran over Toronto in a second-round sweep, with a hobbled Lowry unable to see out the series.

But then 2018 came around. The Raptors looked good. They looked…different.

They were the first seed after an exemplary regular season. Lowry and DeRozan looked fresh and the supporting cast seemed solid and capable.

The Cavaliers awaited them once again in the postseason.

In fact, in spite of their embarrassing record against LeBron’s Cavs, most tipped them to take out this series.

And you can’t really blame them. Cleveland squeezed by the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the first round, and James’ supporting cast looked frazzled and out of place. It was Toronto’s series to lose.

Call it mental fragility. Call it ‘choking’. What it was, was a collapse. A breakdown of catastrophic proportions. Toronto was swept.

Lowry was solid through the first three games, i.e. when the series was still somewhat competitive. 18/3/10, 21/4/8 and 27/3/7 on above 50 percent shooting on each occasion.

In Game 3, DeRozan was a disaster. But in Game’s 1 and 2 – pretty good. But that was always the story with DeMar DeRozan.

The thing is, DeRozan is pretty good. But that’s it. In the playoffs, deficiencies are exposed, game-planned against, and nitpicked. DeRozan’s 3-point shooting – or lack thereof – always played right into the opponents’ hands.

When your No. 1 guy has a ginormous hole in his game, it’s hard to win when it really matters.

And the thing is, this is at no fault of DeRozan’s. He’s an excellent player. But in the regular season, he sold a fake prophecy. He was expected to perform at the same level as the game’s premier talents once the postseason rolled around when he simply wasn’t, and isn’t, one of them.

That offseason, DeRozan was traded to the San Antonio Spurs. In return, the Raptors received Kawhi Leonard.

While still lobsided, the deal’s catch was that Leonard was merely a rental. The 6-foot-7 forward had expressed his desire to play in Los Angeles prior to requesting a trade, with just one year left on his deal.

Masai Ujiri rolled the dice, but truth be told, he had nothing to lose. The Raptors were stuck in a rut and weren’t going anywhere. Leonard was a beacon of hope – and the Raptor faithful grasped on tightly.

Alongside Leonard, Lowry could finally excel in silence. Lowry’s a No. 2 option at best and always has been. He’s the prototypical championship point guard with his combination of leadership, defense, playmaking, and shooting.

He could finally be the best version of himself. For years he’d been asked to do more than he was capable of – shoulder more than he could realistically manage. With an elite talent by his side, Kyle Lowry could be Kyle Lowry.

Lowry had another stellar regular season and was named to his 5th straight all-star team. His sturdy played continued into the playoffs where he averaged 15/5/7 along with 1.5 steals on 44/36/80 shooting splits.

The Raptors clawed their way through an immensely talented Eastern Conference and made it to the franchise’s very first NBA Finals. They’d go on to take down a hobbled Golden State Warriors outfit, 4-2.

In Game 6 came the most fitting of moments. Mr. Toronto Raptors Kyle Lowry took the game by the scruff of the neck. The ‘choker’ and the so-called perennial loser thrived on the biggest stage of all.

Lowry scored Toronto’s first 11 points on 4/4 shooting and finished the quarter with 15. He’d finish the night with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Raptors were crowned NBA champions.

While Leonard was rightfully named Finals MVP, Lowry’s importance to the team’s success knows no bounds. All the heartbreaks, all the gut-wrenching season endings. Lowry dusted himself off and went again, and again, and again. He was the backbone of this team and will remain so as long as he’s playing North of the border.

No one deserved this more.

Here’s to you, Mr. Lowry.