A resolution honoring and congratulating Kyle Lowry, a North Philadelphia native, on the event of his winning of the NBA Championship, and for his continued positive presentation of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Kyle Lowry was born on March 25, 1986 and lived at West Somerset & North 19th Street for much of his formative years. Kyle would often tag along with his older brother Lonnie, playing football with the neighborhood kids before he discovered his true passion - basketball; and

WHEREAS, While Mr. Lowry was exceptionally good at baseball from a young age, his brother Lonnie pushed him towards basketball, helping him with training and practice; and

WHEREAS, Through his continued training, and participation in a youth basketball league, Mr. Lowry would catch the eye of Coach Dave Distal. Coach Distal was an assistant coach at Cardinal Dougherty High School - and pushed Kyle to attend Cardinal Dougherty; and

WHEREAS, With his opportunity at Cardinal Doughtery, the efforts of his brother and his own personal work ethic -Mr. Lowry would become a workout fanatic. While many of the students around him would relax after a half day at Cardinal Dougherty, Lowry would catch a bus to a train in order to workout at Temple University. After his workout, Kyle would walk the 2 ½ miles back to his house; and

WHEREAS, After his senior year at Cardinal Dougherty in 2004, Mr. Lowry was awarded with the Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year, helping him become a five-star recruit, and ranked sixth among all point guards and twenty-eighth among all high school players in 2004; and

WHEREAS, After a difficult recruiting period, Mr. Lowry would ultimately attend Villanova University, staying close to home and playing in the Philadelphia Big Five; and

WHERERAS, In his freshman year at Villanova, Mr. Lowry would be included in the Big East’s All-Rookie team, and was named the Philadelphia Big Five’s Rookie of the Year, averaging 7.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.3 steals per game; and

WHEREAS, After his sophomore year at Villanova, Mr. Lowry declared for the NBA draft, and was selected in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies and played several season with the team; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lowry would being playing for the Toronto Raptors in 2012, becoming an integral part of the team, and helping to lead the Raptor’s to their first playoff appearance in five years; and

WHEREAS, Since becoming a Raptor, Mr. Lowry has been named an NBA All-Star five times leading the team to six straight playoff appearances and two Eastern Conference Finals appearances; and

WHEREAS, Through Mr. Lowry’s continued efforts in the playoffs, the Toronto Raptors won the series against the Milwaukee Bucks 4 - 2, securing the Raptors first Eastern Conference Championship win and first appearance in the NBA Finals; and

WHEREAS, The Raptors would move on to the play the Golden State Warriors who were favored to win and have won three out of the previous four NBA Championships; and

WHEREAS, In game six of the NBA Finals, Mr. Lowry would record 26 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals to help lead the Raptors to a 114-110 win. With a victory in game six, the Toronto Raptors won the series 4-2, winning their first NBA Title and cementing Mr. Lowry’s legacy in Toronto; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize and congratulate Kyle Lowry for winning an NBA Championship his continued positive representation of Philadelphia.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Kyle Lowry as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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