Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry lives his dream playing in his hometown

On, Nov. 1, 1996, a 10-year-old kid walked into CoreStates Center in amazement just like all the other intrigued and excited Philadelphia 76ers fans. Scalped tickets from a family friend not only got the North Philadelphian into the first game at the Sixers’ new arena but, more importantly, the debut of heralded rookie Allen Iverson.

The Milwaukee Bucks spoiled the night by defeating the Sixers 111-103 despite 30 points and six assists from Iverson. Seeing Iverson dominate among NBA giants at just 6 feet allowed the kid to dream bigger about playing in the NBA.

Now, 28 years later, Kyle Lowry is playing in that same arena as a Sixer.

“I had a guy, Robert Taylor. A good dude. He used to get us some scalped tickets,” Lowry told Andscape in March. “I have the coin still. It’s probably in my mom’s house somewhere now with some other stuff. But they gave out that commemorative coin for the opening of what now is the Wells Fargo Center.

“I was an awe of a guy [Iverson] that was that that small [dominating]. And I didn’t know he was tall at that time because I was little kid. But seeing him being able to do the things that he was able to do opening night and just go out there with Stack [Jerry Stackhouse], it was crazy. It was good for me. It was fun to watch.”

Tuesday night, Lowry and his Sixers hope to keep their season alive in Game 5 of their first-round series against the host New York Knicks. The Knicks have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Time will tell if it is also Lowry’s last game with the Sixers. The former Villanova University star averaged 8.1 points, 4.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds for the Sixers this season after signing as a free agent for the rest of the season for $2.8 million on Feb. 14. Lowry rejoined his old Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, who he won an NBA championship with in 2019.

The following is a Q&A with Lowry, who talks about what it means to be wear a Sixers jersey, how he was able to get his beloved No. 7 from teammate Mo Bamba, mentoring NBA All-Star teammate Tyrese Maxey, the impact Sixers star Joel Embiid can have if healthy, what it means to be the NBA’s fourth-oldest player and much more.

Is playing at home the last box you needed to check in your NBA career?

This was a box I never thought I would check. I always wanted to, but I never thought it would happen. And as you get older you’re like, ‘Oh…’ I said no when I was younger. I wanted to do it a couple years ago when I was still kind of in my prime and I had the opportunity to go back. But Toronto was the situation for me. So, I [re-signed] back to Toronto and it [going to Philadelphia] just didn’t work out. But I think right now it’s been the perfect time to be here, especially with Tyrese and the superemerging superstar [Embiid]. So, for me it’s been a blessing in disguise to be able to help and be around that kid.

What was it like the first time you wore a Sixers jersey?

The first time, it was crazy. You represent your last name, Lowry. You represent your family. You represent everybody. You represent your city. It’s pretty cool.

How did you become a Sixers fan?

My mom. My brother. Everybody was a Sixers fan for sure. They loved Dr. J [Julius Erving], Armen Gilliam, Charles Barkley. I was a Dana Barros fan. It goes back a while. You had to watch them on [sports cable channel] PRISM. Only Philadelphia people know what that is. I was watching as many games as I could, NBC games, whenever. They never really was on NBC because they were never good for a while. But every chance I got to watch I would.

Who was your biggest basketball influence?

A.I. was one of my biggest basketball influences. For sure my brother. But in the NBA, of course we all liked Michael Jordan back then.

Do you remember the first game you ever played as an NBA player in Philadelphia?

Yeah, I think I bought 75 tickets. I guess it was in Memphis my second year in the league. Seventy-five tickets I bought. Yeah, it was a lot of money for me at the time. But I made sure everybody was there. I’m happy they got to see me play. I don’t remember what I did that game, but I doubt we won. We didn’t win that many games back in the day back in Memphis. But it was good. It was a cool experience.

How have you been mentoring Maxey?

It’s just experience. Talking to him. Keeping him on his toes about doing things on both ends. Making sure he doesn’t get satisfied with just being the one-way guy. Always wanting to be a two-way guy. Making sure he’s leading in all ways … But he’s got so much talent and abilities. Who he is is infectious. And you got to use that.

What is the best thing about being home and the most challenging thing?

It’s not challenging anymore. I’ve always been able to say no, so that’s easy. You want to bring something special to the city that hasn’t been there for a long time. So that’s the challenge that is good. I want to get to that point where we’re holding the [championship] trophy up. The best part is you get to represent your city who you watched growing up.

Mo Bamba was wearing the No. 7 when you got to Philadelphia. How did you get your longtime number back?

It’s been my number for a while. I appreciate you, Mo Bamba. I paid for it [by donating to the Mo Bamba Foundation]. I can’t tell you what I paid for it, but he is a great gentleman that way. It was a phenomenal thing that I was able to do for his charity. That’s big for me. He didn’t care about himself. That’s dope.

[Bamba’s charity is] awesome. He sent me the pamphlet and I said, ‘Bet. It’s cool.’ Listen, I got a lot of brothers from over there [Africa]. [Oklahoma City Thunder center] Bismack Biyombo does an unbelievable job. [Former NBA player] Serge [Ibaka] does a great job. Mo has done some great things for his [parents’] country [Ivory Coast]. [Raptors president] Masai [Ujiri] with The Giants of Africa. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to have the opportunity to help and represent the Black people and the culture over there.

Your wife and two sons are still in South Florida where you played earlier this season for the Miami Heat. What is it like being away from them?

That is the toughest part. I can’t see my kids every day. That’s been tough. But daddy is providing for them and they understand it. They still watch games and they cheer and they love you. So, they understand what dad’s job is. So that’s the cool part about it. They understand. They’re old enough to understand that.

They were with me everywhere [during my NBA career] … So, it’s the first time without them. But they’re older and they’re settled. So, my kids is the most important thing to me. We FaceTime. Just checking in. Trying to watch their games. Get the videos.

How good can the Sixers be with a healthy Embiid?

We’re really good. There are a couple guys who can be MVPs and he is one of them. There are a couple of guys in this league that are possible MVPs every single year. He is one of them. You add him back to any team, you can know what you can get. A dominant, special force.

The Sixers have not won an NBA title since 1983. What would it mean for you to be part of a championship team with the Sixers? How crazy would you act at a championship parade in Philadelphia?

I wouldn’t act crazy at all. I might not even go. I might just sit and wait at the stage and enjoy the moment on the stage. It would mean the same thing to Philadelphia that it meant for Toronto when I was there. I was there in 2001 when [the Sixers] made it to the Finals. I wasn’t born yet when we last won. But it was 1983. Yeah, I know the date. I’m a basketball historian.

What is it like to be the fourth-oldest player in the NBA, which has about 450 players?

I told LeBron [James] that we have to keep holding it down for the old folks. That is dope to be able to still give, play and represent for the guys. I’ve played in three decades now.