Miami Heat fans expected at least one sure thing after a turbulent summer of emotional investment in every potential trade: the removal of Kyle Lowry from the roster.
They were further incensed with Lowry for being absent during the team’s Media Day on October 3. While head coach Erik Spoelstra, Jimmy Butler and the rest of the roster spoke optimistically about their playoff chances this season, Lowry moved in the shadows of the Kaseya Center, taking requisite team photos from station to station, while avoiding any direct interaction with media members. After pinning their hopes on Damian Lillard and, to a lesser degree, Jrue Holiday, Miami fans were “stuck” with Lowry, and it was like he wasn’t even there.
Just over 24 hours later, on day one of training camp to kick off the 2023-24 season, there was the 37-year-old Lowry, very much in attendance and breaking hearts around South Florida.
Spoelstra would respond to Lowry’s statement later in the day, indicating that nothing was yet set in terms of the starting rotation. Lowry, along with other guards like Tyler Herro, Josh Richardson and Dru Smith, would get their chance. But Lowry has earned the right to compete and to believe in his self-worth, even after a year of incessant trade rumors had him included in any number of deals that never materialized.
Lowry hasn’t exactly thrived since signing with the Heat in 2021, but expectations were outsized from the start. He was among the top free agents of that year’s class, and there was strong interest from a number of teams. For the Heat, he was the missing piece on a team that had just been in the NBA Finals two seasons earlier. They lacked point-of-attack defense in the backcourt and a solid complement to Butler, Herro and Bam Adebayo. His championship experience aligned perfectly with Miami’s title hopes.
