Five years have now elapsed since the Miami Heat were eliminated by the Toronto Raptors in the 2016 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite losing Chris Bosh for a second-straight season due to blood-clots, the Heat still managed to grasp the third spot in the Eastern Conference Playoff standings, with a record of 48-34.
The Raptors finished second, with a franchise record of 56-26 — which was their first fifty-win season in franchise history. Then, 29 year-old Kyle Lowry and a ten-year veteran, was in the midst of a breakout season.
He was recently named an All-Star for the first time — en route to receiving All-NBA honors as well. Even as a late-bloomer, it was evident that Lowry had entered the elite tier of NBA point guards and the entire country of Canada has been behind him ever since.
With 2016 averages of 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 2.1 steals, Lowry was and has been the engine to Toronto’s success, despite once playing second-fiddle to DeMar DeRozan. There was heavy consideration that he was ahead of the East’s top point guards, which were then being led by Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas.