When it comes to putting together a “Mount Rushmore” list of the all-time greatest Toronto Raptors, there’s one player who should always make the cut: Kyle Lowry.
The point guard has often been called the GROAT – Greatest Raptor Of All Time – and for good reason.
The Philadelphia native played nine seasons for the Raptors, making six all-star games and helping the team win its lone NBA championship in 2019.
Lowry wrapped up his final NBA season last month with the Philadelphia 76ers — although he has stated that he would love to sign a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the Raptors.
With the Raptors very much still on his mind, he was asked during a recent interview about who some of his fellow greats would be on a hypothetical Raptors Mount Rushmore.
Who is on Kyle Lowry’s list?
Speaking with Please Relate To This, Lowry began his selection with a few names that would earn spots on most fans’ lists: Himself, DeMar DeRozan and Vince Carter.
But it was the fourth former Raptor he named who had many fans surprised.
“I’m going with Alvin Williams,” Lowry said after a brief pause to think.
Williams is an often-unheralded player from Raptors past, having played eight seasons with the team from 1998-2006. He averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 assists per game through his time in Toronto, peaking in the 2002-03 season with 13.2 points and 5.3 assists.
While he was a second-round draft pick by the Trail Blazers, he played just 41 games for them before being traded to Toronto in the deal that sent Damon Stoudamire to Portland.
Which other Raptors could have been picked?
While Williams certainly has his supporters in North, many fans were quick to name candidates for the fourth spot who they felt were more worthy.
Many shouted out Kawhi Leonard after he led the team to its lone championship and won NBA Finals MVP. Other fans, however, argued that playing just one season in Toronto – as epic as it was – means he shouldn’t be considered.
Other names mentioned included Chris Bosh, who was a long-time leader for the franchise and one of its biggest stars before he left to join up with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami.
Pascal Siakam, another one of the team’s homegrown stars who contributed greatly in 2019, also had his druthers in the comments.
Some fans also included Stoudamire in their list, noting that he was the team’s first star and also the Raptors first-ever draft pick.
While Scottie Barnes garnered some mentions, most noted that he isn’t quite ready for the honour yet but should make it if he keeps up his rise to NBA stardom.