The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to build a dominant roster around center Joel Embiid and it seems like they have signed another veteran presence to help the team going forward. Kyle Lowry took to his Instagram page to announce that he is returning to the team and The Athletic’s Shams Charania added that this will be a one-year deal.
Kyle Lowry joined the Philadelphia 76ers late last season after being bought out by the Charlotte Hornets and signing with the Sixers. He would play in 23 games (20 starts) and average 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 0.9 steals while having a shooting split of 44.4/40.4/84.8 in 28.4 minutes per game.
Let’s take a closer look at what this means for Philadelphia going into the 2024-25 NBA season.
How does Kyle Lowry help the Philadelphia 76ers next season?
Kyle Lowry is a veteran guard who understands how to play his role on the team extremely well. He can be a pest on the defensive side of the court, being able to draw charges at an incredible rate, and understands how to play in Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse’s system.
The additions of Paul George and Andre Drummond this offseason showcase that the front office wanted to add some veteran leadership in an attempt to close the gap between them and the Boston Celtics. The Philadelphia 76ers have not made an Eastern Conference Finals appearance with Joel Embiid and he holds a 29-30 career postseason record, so getting him players to help out and produce is critical.
This also helps with some veteran leadership as Tyrese Maxey is no longer asked to defend the best guard on the court. Lowry showcased he can play a role and play it well with this 76ers team and while it is not a splashy free agent signing, it seemingly is a smart one.
Entering his 38-year-old season, there is concern about his health as he has not played in more than 65 games since the 2017-18 season. However, all Lowry needs to do is continue helping the team defensively and being another coach on the floor and that will make this contract worth it in the end.
About the Author
Vincent Pensabene graduated from Saint Leo University in 2019 with a B.A. in Sport Business and has focused on the media side of sports. He writes for multiple publications and is interested in the reasoning of why things happen. Feel free to follow him on social media @TalkVinTalk and discuss all things sports.
