Following the conclusion of the 2021-22 NBA season, Kyle Lowry’s conditioning came into question when the six-time NBA All-Star reportedly failed to meet the Miami Heat’s team requirement of less than 18% body fat.
Following the news of Lowry’s conditioning, Miami Heat team president Pat Riley acknowledged the report and got pretty candid about the guard’s need to get back in shape.
“He’s definitely gonna have to address that and it will be addressed,” Riley said of Lowry’s conditioning according to Miami Heat reporter Brady Hawk. “The bottom line with me and for me as far as hoping you can get the most out of a player is that you have to be in world-class shape, you just have to be.”
It seems that Lowry got the message loud and clear. An image of the Heat guard’s new, much leaner physique made rounds around social media and it had the NBA world buzzing.
When Pat Riley fat shames you https://t.co/5EXQx4dexQ
— David Lang (@Dukielang) July 14, 2022
Literally 30-40% of replies to this tweet is people asking if Lowry still got his ass or is still thicc 😑😂 https://t.co/iwJfenLCNG
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) July 14, 2022
— Sebas M. Christensen (@SebastianMCESPN) July 14, 2022
“Bullying works” – Pat Riley https://t.co/u8UeHJM2Sy
— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) July 14, 2022
In-shape Kyle Lowry is the perfect defensive back-court mate next to Donovan Mitchell
I said it https://t.co/IFYxn6KfZ2
— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) July 14, 2022
Looks like Kyle Lowry is truly getting in prime shape, taking the challenge laid out by Pat seriously 👀 pic.twitter.com/rAP7j9g4jl
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) July 14, 2022
The league isn't ready for a ripped Kyle Lowry 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rWKZ7JyIYL
— Heat Nation (@HeatNationCP) July 14, 2022
Last season, the 36-year-old averaged 13.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for the Heat, marking a nine-year low in both categories. If he did make a radical change in his physique like the photo suggests and get himself into the “world-class shape” that Riley describes, there’s a chance he sees those numbers improve across the board next season.
