Raptors' Kyle Lowry 'would have loved' to sign with Spurs over summer
According to Kyle Lowry, he "would have loved" to join the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent over the summer, but that love didn't go both ways.
"It was real for me," Lowry said in a recent interview with the San Antonio Express-News, "but it wasn't real for them. That's a part of the business that people don't know. I would have loved to come (to San Antonio), but it didn't work out. The conversation didn't happen. If the conversation happened, I would tell you. But it didn't happen.
"Not saying that I wanted out, but I did look at teams to see what was going on," Lowry said. "I mean this place would've been a great place."
Instead, the three-time All-Star re-signed with the Toronto Raptors on a three-year, $100 million deal.
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The 31-year-old point guard is now in his sixth season in Toronto, where he and the team have experienced great success. But the Raptors' ceiling may have been reached two seasons ago, when they advanced to the Eastern Conference finals before falling to the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in six games.
The Spurs, on the other hand, have been a perennial championship contender for the past two decades, winning five championships under head coach Gregg Popovich.
"Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches in the history of the NBA," Lowry said. "I knew the culture, but at the end of the day I came back to a situation that was best for me that I loved and happy to be in."
The Raptors (2-2) are off to a bit of a slow start this season, as is Lowry, who's averaging just 12.8 points on 37.5% shooting.