Toronto Raptors' point guard Kyle Lowry is locked in for game five of the 2019 NBA Finals as his team inches closer toward winning the franchise's first championship.
The 33-year-old Philadelphia native delivered a string of strong performances against the Golden State Warriors and is beloved by Toronto fans. After a heartwarming exchange with a young reporter, he's become the pride and joy of Raptors fans as well as Twitter.
That's a good question. #WeTheNorth | #NBAFinals
pic.twitter.com/QSQDGXfHom— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) June 9, 2019
Lowry was answering questions at a press conference in Oakland on Sunday when young reporter caught his attention. Arjun Ram of Toronto's CBC Kids News came up to the microphone and asked, "How does it feel to be an icon across Canada to kids?"
At first he demurred and said he wasn't an icon at all. Then, he praised the young reporter for the question and answered it in full.
"I was once a kid, I was once in your shoes. And to know kids one day will want to be like me…I hold myself to a super high standard. I want kids to see a man that is really professional, really about his business," he said.
"But at the same time still fun and loving it."
Lowry has gone through tons of ups and downs throughout his career and was once thought of as a "coach-killer." He has admitted that he was hardheaded and did not listen to certain coaches during earlier stops in his career.
However, his leadership and play throughout the Raptor's run through the playoffs have been key to bringing the team this far. He is the longest tenured player on the team and an integral part of why they've been able to come so close to ending the Warrior's five-year dynasty.
Twitter showered Lowry with love for the answer, commending his fun nature while also spotlighting how much he's grown since joining the league.
an icon to children and this 26 year old adult who may or may not already be crying https://t.co/Ce3ilscpJ4
— i. (@BoooooUWhore) June 9, 2019
Fire everyone and hire children https://t.co/yzMasiHfz4
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 9, 2019
Never followed Kyle much before but now watching him this playoff run and hearing all his interviews???????? Class act ???????? much respect https://t.co/ZRYNY0tI9u
— Bryce Cakes Raines (@bcakeswehigh) June 9, 2019
"What my mom had to go through and my grandma had to go through … That's pressure."
—@Klow7 speaks on pressure pic.twitter.com/hIjeZBN8xn
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 9, 2019
???? Lowry stock continues to rise. Love athletes with real perspective. https://t.co/0KUHFxN6CB
— VP of Dad Jokes (@DunlapSports) June 9, 2019
Shout out to Arjun Ram from @CBCKidsNews for his brilliant question to Kyle Lowry: "How does it feel to be an icon all over Canada?" https://t.co/RyZeRdj7FM
— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto) June 9, 2019
"That was a crazy question. You can't beat that question," Lowry said to the next reporter.
"You can try, but you can't beat that."