Villanova Knicks, Kyle Lowry Share a Moment After Semifinals

The New York Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, May 10, winning 144-114 at Xfinity Mobile Arena… and prompting a moment between a quartet of Villanova products after the game.

Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges advanced with New York; Kyle Lowry, almost certainly in the final season of his career with his hometown 76ers, saw his playing days come to an end.

A fan video shows Brunson and then Hart embracing a smiling Lowry and sharing a brief conversation; the video later cuts to a longer shot of Bridges and Lowry meeting up as the handshake line progresses.

Lowry grew up in North Philadelphia and played two seasons at Villanova, making the Elite Eight in 2006; the Wildcats later retired his No. 1 jersey, which Brunson later donned. A 20-year NBA veteran, Lowry made six All-Star teams and won the 2019 NBA Championship with the Toronto Raptors. While never an outright superstar, his consistent career makes him an excellent candidate for the Hall of Fame.

Lowry didn’t check in for Game 4; he earned three minutes across two games in the 76ers’ first round win over the Boston Celtics.

Brunson scored 22 points in Game 4, making six of ten three-point shots and adding four rebounds and six assists; Hart scored 17 points and brought down nine rebounds, while Bridges added 12 points, four rebounds, six assists and three steals.

The Knicks will take on either the Detroit Pistons or Cleveland Cavaliers, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row. They’d hold home court advantage against Cleveland, while Detroit holds the No. 1 seed in the East.