It feels like Kyle Lowry left the Toronto Raptors a very long time ago.

In reality, it’s been less than three seasons. The time has simply felt long because of the Lowry-shaped hole Toronto has been trying to fill every since.

In many ways, the franchise has never truly replaced him. In more ways than one, they can’t.

“I mean, he’s an amazing player,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said of the Raptors legend ahead of Lowry’s return to Toronto on Wednesday night. “He did amazing stuff here in Toronto. He did amazing stuff in league and also he was on a team that won the championship.”

Toronto has played Miami five times since the sign-and-trade that landed Lowry with the Heat. The Raptors dropped the first two before winning three straight and hope to make it four in a row against a battered Heat lineup on Wednesday.

Now in his age-37 season, Lowry isn’t the player he once was. That said, he’s not too far off when comparing this season’s numbers to career averages. A lot of that can be attributed to one thing Lowry will never lose – his tireless work ethic.

“I have a lot of respect for guys like that,” Rajaković said of Lowry. “They just find the motivation every single day to come to work, practice or game, and bring their best and I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”

The six-time NBA All-Star has started every game he’s played this season, averaging 9.4 points to go along with 4.2 boards, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals in just over 29 minutes. He’s also shooting north of 44% from beyond the arc – a rare commodity in Toronto these days.

In hindsight, it was understandable to be upset when Lowry left Toronto in 2021 following the team’s strange season in Tampa. But the logic around a Lowry sign-and-trade made sense at the time. Toronto was looking to turn the page and pivot toward a younger core with Lowry’s replacement Fred VanVleet ready to lead the Raptors into a new era.

It’s the way it happened and the subsequent result that has left something to be desired. The return in the deal, Precious Achiuwa and Goran Dragic, seemed light for a player who was then just two years removed from a championship, and a year out from a six-year run as an NBA All-Star. That’s not to mention that losing a star player is an emotional experience, let alone seeing Lowry don the jersey of a conference rival.

For nine seasons, Lowry called Toronto home while running the point with confidence. He’s on track to be a future basketball hall of famer one day and will certainly have his named entrenched in Raptors lore forever.