Kyle Lowry: 76ers Debut ‘Was a Great Moment,’ Praises ‘Amazing Atmosphere’ vs. Knicks

Adam WellsFebruary 23, 2024

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Even though the Philadelphia 76ers’ struggles without Joel Embiid continued with Thursday’s 110-96 loss to the New York Knicks, Kyle Lowry was able to take some positives away from his debut with his hometown team.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Lowry praised the “amazing atmosphere” and called the standing ovation he got from the crowd a “great moment.”

Philadelphia 76ers @sixers”making his Sixer debut from North Philly…Kyle Lowry!” pic.twitter.com/ay0mkbybfz

Lowry became a free agent on Feb. 11 when he received a buyout from the Charlotte Hornets, who acquired him from the Miami in January as part of the Terry Rozier trade.

The 76ers signed him for the remainder of the season on Feb. 13. Thursday was Lowry’s first appearance in a game since Jan. 21. He looked sharp in his Sixers debut with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds in 25 minutes.

It marked the first time Lowry suited up for a Philadelphia-based team since college. He played two seasons at Villanova from 2004 to ’06 before being drafted in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies.

There was a scary moment early in Lowry’s debut with the Sixers. He took an elbow to the head from Knicks center Jericho Sims in the second quarter that sent him to the locker room for six stitches to close the wound.

While the moment for Lowry was one he will likely remember for a long time, the 76ers are trying to keep their head above water as they wait for Embiid to potentially return this season.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Wednesday’s episode of NBA Today there’s “optimism” within the Sixers organization that Embiid can return at some point before the end of the regular season with enough time to “get his rhythm heading into the playoffs.”

The reigning NBA MVP has been out of action since Jan. 30 due to a knee injury that required surgery to repair his meniscus.

Philadelphia has lost six of its last nine games without Embiid and has fallen to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.