The Heat and the Raptors faced off in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, with Kyle Lowry taking over for Dwyane Wade. Lowry wore No. 7 for the first time ever in a Miami uniform, but before he did, he had to get permission from his predecessor.
The Miami Heat city jersey 2024 is a new jersey that the Miami Heat will wear in 2024. Kyle Lowry, who was traded to the Heat from the Raptors, needed to get permission from Dwyane Wade before wearing it.
Kyle Lowry is one of this generation’s most well-known and accomplished point guards. He did, however, need authorization before receiving the Miami Heat’s No. 7 jersey.
Typically, “blessings” on jerseys originate from team symbols or mainstays in some way. Goran Dragic had apparently built enough of a reputation in South Beach that Lowry felt compelled to seek his permission.
Kyle Lowry was the highlight of the Miami Heat’s offseason.
After a surprise run to the NBA Finals in the Orlando bubble, the Miami Heat took a step back in the 2024-21 season. They’re probably hoping Kyle Lowry can help them go back into championship contention.
Lowry arrived in Miami through a sign-and-trade deal, giving the Heat a true playmaker and two-way grinder at the point guard position.
Despite the fact that the Toronto Raptors had a difficult season last year, Lowry was a standout performer. He shot almost 40% from outside the arc on 7.2 tries per game, averaging 17.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. His ability to spread the floor and create plays in the paint is critical for a Heat club that has struggled to find inside-out threats at the point guard position.
Lowry also has intangible qualities like as leadership, hustle, and intensity. He’s a natural match for Heat culture and as a teammate to a highly competitive Jimmy Butler.
The pedigree is also included. Lowry is a six-time NBA All-Star and NBA champion. He has a long list of accomplishments and may be the greatest player in Raptors history.
Despite having a long and successful career, Lowry did not just go in and demand the No. 7 jersey. He needed the go-ahead from the guy he was replacing.
Goran Dragic gave Lowry permission to wear the No. 7 jersey.
Kyle Lowry is wearing 7 with Goran Dragic’s approval, according to a source.
September 19, 2024 — Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds)
Goran Dragic is a very productive NBA point player, according to all reports. Is he, though, the kind of player whose career with the Heat required him to give Lowry his “blessing”? That is, of course, open for dispute.
Dragic, on the one hand, spent a significant amount of time in Miami. He spent six seasons with the Heat, helping to usher the team into a new era as Dwyane Wade’s illustrious career came to an end. Furthermore, there’s a case to be made that if Dragic had been healthy, Miami would have been more competitive in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dragic, on the other hand, isn’t the same sort of Heat mainstay as Wade or even Udonis Haslem. He may have struck a chord with the fans, but it’s odd that his Heat career required him to sign off on someone greater than him donning his former garb.
Regardless, that is exactly what occurred. Lowry asked Dragic if he could wear No. 7 for the Heat, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. According to reports, the Slovenian native has given his approval.
It’s possible that whether Dragic is the kind of player who deserves blessings is immaterial. It indicates, if anything, that he and Lowry have a lot of regard for one another. But one thing is certain. The two point guards seem to be going in opposite directions.
Lowry wants to compete for another title, but Dragic’s future is uncertain.
Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry enjoy a joke | Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Kyle Lowry’s future is set in stone. He’ll attempt to lead the Heat back to the top of the Eastern Conference’s revamped standings. Dragic’s situation is much less clear.
In the Lowry sign-and-trade, the 35-year-old was listed as one of the pieces returning to the Raptors. Dragic, on the other hand, is widely thought to be on his way out of Toronto. It’s still conceivable he’ll join Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, but the Mavs would have to do some wrangling.
In any case, the two veterans are looking to expand their credentials. Dragic has yet to claim his first championship ring. Lowry will try for his second championship in Miami, and he’ll do it while wearing Dragic’s former number.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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