Raptors' All-Star Lowry credits fatherhood for recent success
The Toronto Raptors' Kyle Lowry has been one of the most impressive guards in the NBA this season. But he knows his career hasn't always been met with that type of success.
From immaturity to All-Star.@Raptors guard @Klow7 reflects on his @NBA growing pains. https://t.co/D6p4XhyjEw pic.twitter.com/zvGRef15XA
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) February 11, 2016
In a story for The Player's Tribune published Thursday morning, Lowry credits the changes he has noticed in himself recently to fatherhood. First, Lowry outlined what it was like playing for Houston's former coach Kevin McHale. Despite McHale's good intentions as a basketball coach, Lowry constantly felt himself resisting. None of that made sense until he became a dad.
"I came to realize that [my son] Karter not wanting to eat his cereal even though he needs to … That’s me and Coach [Kevin] McHale. He wanted me to do something so badly, and I’m just pushing back at it so hard.
You figure things like that out when you have kids. Big time. They helped me grow as a man, understanding I was playing for something more important. You live for them. I understood that I could put them in a situation where they didn’t have to worry about people like I did growing up. They can be free and easy, without that stress and mistrust."
Years later, Lowry said he finally understands what went wrong. He didn't feel like he could trust his coach; he didn't feel like he could trust a lot of people.
Lowry also discusses his lack of a relationship with his own father, the complications of his collegiate recruiting process and relecting on his experience first joining the Raptors -- which he originally viewed as temporary.
According to Lowry, fatherhood has given him the necessary perspective and mentality to help his team win. Now, the Raptors have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Lowry will represent Toronto in the All-Star game, voted in as a starter.
"A few years ago, I think people thought of me more as a pain in the ass than a guy who deserved this kind of honor," writes Lowry. "Now, it feels like they appreciate what I do."
Bryan Kalbrosky produces digital content for FOXSports.com. For more, follow him on Twitter @BryanKalbrosky
