NBA: Each team’s greatest comeback from injury in franchise history

Greatest injury comeback in Toronto Raptors history: Kyle Lowry

Broken left wrist

Kyle Lowry got his start in the league as the 24th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. Lowry broke his wrist 10 games into his rookie campaign, missing the rest of the 2006-07 season.

The following offseason, the Grizzlies selected Mike Conley Jr. with the fourth overall pick, showing they were going a different direction and sealing Lowry’s fate.

Lowry was traded to the Houston Rockets prior to the 2009 NBA Trade Deadline, still fighting to attain All-Star status. With the Rockets, he was unable to truly find his footing, despite starting in 109 of his 218 appearances, putting up just 11.5 points, 5.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game.

He was traded again by the Rockets to the Toronto Raptors in 2012 and since then, it’s been smooth sailing for Lowry on the comeback front. Lowry has made six straight All-Star appearances since joining Toronto in 2012.

Lowry averaged a career-high 22.4 points per game during the 2016-17 season, as the Raptors finished 51-31, third-best in the Eastern Conference. The following season, he put up 16.2 points, 6.9 assists and a career-high 5.6 rebounds per game as the Raptors finished 59-23, first in the Eastern Conference.

His career took a hit during his rookie year, but he’s managed to bounce back and despite losing his sidekick, DeMar DeRozan, he’s in the same company if not more, with forward Kawhi Leonard. He’s currently in Year 7 with Toronto and since his rookie year, his growth and comeback are worth discussing.