Kyle Lowry’s Historic 20th NBA Season: How the 76ers Star Is Redefining Longevity in 2025

Veteran guard Kyle Lowry is back for what could be a story-book finale with his hometown Philadelphia 76ers, agreeing to a one-year, $3.63 million deal that will take him into a landmark 20th NBA season. Season 20: a legacy milestone Lowry becomes just the 12th player in league history to reach the two-decade mark. At 39, the six-time All-Star is expected to anchor the second unit, mentor rising guards Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxey, and provide championship DNA from his 2019 title run with Toronto. Although he did not appear in Philadelphia’s opening-night thriller against Boston, team sources say the coaching staff plans to manage his minutes carefully over the 82-game grind. Dual role: court general and Prime Video analyst In a rare NBA first, Lowry will moonlight as a studio analyst for Prime Video’s Thursday streams while still an active player, a move announced in late September. The arrangement mirrors Draymond Green’s media forays and underscores Lowry’s post-career trajectory—without diminishing his on-court responsibilities, according to head coach Nick Nurse. Why the 76ers wanted him back • Playoff-tested leadership: 116 career postseason games • Elite basketball IQ: +8.7 on-off differential after last year’s February acquisition • Locker-room glue: trusted voice for Joel Embiid during late-game situations Rotation ripple effects Lowry’s presence allows Maxey to slide off-ball in certain sets, giving Nurse the flexibility to deploy three-guard lineups that amplify pace and spacing. Expect Philadelphia to stagger Lowry’s minutes with Maxey and De’Anthony Melton, preserving the veteran for crunch time and back-to-back rests. Chasing one more ring The Sixers enter 2025-26 projected top-three in the East, and Lowry’s floor-general skills could be the playoff X-factor that tips a close series. His catch-and-shoot three-point percentage (39.4% last season) meshes perfectly with Embiid’s post gravity, while his penchant for taking charges remains a defensive momentum-shifter. What’s next • First anticipated appearance: Nov. 2 vs. New York at Wells Fargo Center • Prime Video debut: Nov. 6 studio coverage of Sixers–Bucks • Milestone watch: needs 128 assists to surpass 11,000 career points/7,000 assists club Bottom line Kyle Lowry’s swan song season doubles as a live master class for Philadelphia’s young core and an audition for his broadcasting future. If his body holds up, the hometown hero could script a fitting final chapter—one that ends with a deep playoff run and a seamless segue to the analyst’s chair.