Today is Day 7 of the Omer. Malchut sheb’hesed. Love that manifests as Kingship.

It’s the final day of week 1, the week of hesed. According to the kabbalistic way of counting the Omer, each week ends with the attribute of malchut, meaning kingship or sovereignty. So on Day 7, when love manifests itself as royalty, we are going with The King in the North. 

Now, I know what you’re saying: Didn’t we already focus on Kawhi Leonard on Day 2?! The man who led the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA Championship, won Finals MVP, and was serenaded with chants and memes proclaiming  his Kingship?! Well, Kawhi immediately abdicated his throne, leaving the real leader of the Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry, as the true King in the North.

Lowry struggled to find a home and role in his first 7 years in the league before becoming a 6x All-Star in Toronto. For six years, he formed an All-star backcourt with his best friend, DeMar DeRozan. However, despite strong regular seasons, the team and it’s two stars struggled in the playoffs year after year. When DeRozan was traded for Leonard, Lowry was heartbroken. (Check out Game of Zones for how it all went down). 

Lowry eventually welcomed his new teammate and embraced the challenge. The result: an NBA championship that changed the narrative about the Raptors and Lowry. No longer the player who couldn’t get it done when it mattered most, Lowry was the player who went for 26 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds in the clinching game 6, as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors to win the 2019 NBA Championship.

Lowry was always the heart of the Raptors and their team, diving for loose balls, taking charges, and taking big shots, but now he is the leader of the reigning NBA Champions. And with Leonard gone, he reigns supreme in Canada as the King in the North.