
Kyle Lowry is an NBA champion, six-time All-Star and one of the most consistently reliable guards of his generation.
The respect he commands from his peers and observers is justified and speaks for itself.
That said, Lowry has always had one fatal flaw: he tends to let his body go. And it’s not any sort of big secret. It is something both he and his former teammate, DeMar DeRozan, have publicly addressed.
“3 a.m. McFlurry runs,” starring @DeMar_DeRozan and used-to-be-fat @Klow7. -Charlie pic.twitter.com/6EjDk8xq9k
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) January 28, 2016
“Whose idea was it to walk to McDonalds to get McFlurrys at like three in the morning? It was yours,” DeRozan said to Lowry during an interview with Dan Le Batard.
“That was when I was fat, though,” Lowry replied.
Well, Lowry was fat once again in 2021-22. Between that and his injuries, he had a rough go of things in his first season with the Miami Heat. It got so bad that team president Pat Riley openly called him out afterward.
Riley makes clear he wants to keep Tucker. Says Heat to speak to Oladipo agent. On Lowry conditioning: “He definitely is going to have to address that and it will be addressed. I definitely think he can be in better shape. We’ll address it and try to help him.”
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) June 6, 2022
A consummate professional, Lowry heard the critique loud and clear.
This week a photo emerged of Lowry looking incredibly skinny. And seeing as the offseason is still in full swing, it’s clear that he took last season’s failures and Riley’s criticism to heart.
Kyle Lowry looks JACKED. via @travisxwallace pic.twitter.com/nMnnVmVOZw
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) July 14, 2022
With social media being what it is nowadays, reactions came in swiftly:
cakes gone. sadge. https://t.co/Ejv5EUY8mZ
— him. (@____theodoro) July 14, 2022
Heat culture! https://t.co/YVjFxUll6d
— Nungua Black Head (@Femiscious_D) July 14, 2022
That’s that Heat culture! https://t.co/3lBX3jcAff
— AM (@_rozayyy10) July 14, 2022
Proof that getting bullied into shape WORKS https://t.co/QJo2LRtfN4
— Riverōn (@riveron_music) July 14, 2022
If all else fails, we have a Miami Heat conditioned Kyle Lowry to enjoy at least https://t.co/uZxGww62dB
— Miami HEAT UK (@TheMiamiHeatUK) July 14, 2022
Last season Lowry put up 13.4 points per game on 44 percent shooting from the field and 37.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. In addition, he also chipped in 7.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game.
It will be interesting to see if a better conditioned version of the 36-year-old can improve on that in 2022-23.
The Heat are having a busy offseason. They are 1 of 3 teams in the hunt for a Patrick Beverley trade and the “most determined” suitor for one of the league’s premiere superstars.
They seem to have a Plan A and a Plan B for this summer – plus a Plan C option if all else fails.
There have been some unfortunate offseason controversies that have mired the team, but for the most part everyone seems focused on what lays ahead.
Broncos fans better get used to this. https://t.co/G4V8HYDBiS
— Game 7 (@game7__) July 15, 2022
Miami came very close to making the Finals and competing for a championship in 2021-22.
Will the Heat be able to right that wrong come next year?
Time will tell.
Related: Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant Discussing Warriors Reunion?

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.