Mexican talent Karim Lopez announces entry into NBA draft

Mexican talent Karim Lopez has announced his intention to enter the 2026 NBA draft, as reported by ESPN on Monday.

Ranked No. 11 on ESPN’s Big Board, Lopez has spent the last two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL.

“It has been my lifelong dream and ambition to play in the NBA,” Lopez shared with ESPN. “Honestly, I have wanted this for as long as I can remember. I was probably around 5 years old, creating drawings of myself playing in the NBA. … It’s quite special, you know, to find myself in this position now.”

At 19 years old, Lopez averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and shot 49% from the field this season over 25.6 minutes per game. Standing at 6-9, he is a forward with perimeter capabilities and set multiple records for draft-eligible NBL Next Stars, including the single-season points record with a total of 358 across his 30 starts. He matched the record for total steals and blocks with 66, previously set by 2025 draftee Alex Toohey.

The Breakers finished the season with a 14-20 record, but they secured the NBL’s inaugural Ignite Cup (a regular-season tournament) in February, with Lopez playing a significant role on a team led by veterans. After recovering from a summer back injury, he made notable progress in his second NBL season, highlighted by a 32-point performance in a January 30 victory over Melbourne.

“[The NBL] was a significant learning experience during both years; a remarkable chapter in my life,” Lopez stated. “I believe that once I was fully healthy, [this season] progressed positively. Naturally, I would have preferred to reach the playoffs, but winning the Ignite Cup was a major achievement. I am truly pleased with the experience I gained and all the preparation.”

NBA scouts have taken notice of Lopez’s mix of positional size, 7-1 wingspan, ball-handling skills, flashes of playmaking, and resilience—a combination of attributes that teams often seek in the draft. His perimeter shooting and physical explosiveness are aspects he aims to enhance as he approaches the pre-draft process.

“I want to demonstrate to NBA teams who I am,” Lopez remarked. “Competing in a league with grown men is challenging. However, there are aspects of my game that I believe people have yet to see.”

As the top-ranked international prospect on ESPN’s draft rankings, Lopez is anticipated to be the first player born in Mexico to be chosen in the first round of the NBA draft. The son of former Mexican national team player Jesús Hiram Lopez, he relocated to Spain at the age of 14 to join the Spanish club Joventut Badalona, before signing with the Breakers in 2024.

“One of my goals is to hopefully inspire young people in Mexico,” Lopez expressed, having been born in Hermosillo, Mexico. “I aim to promote the sport and motivate athletes and individuals in general to pursue their dreams. I want to show that it doesn’t matter where you come from.”

The NBA draft combine is scheduled for May 10-17 in Chicago, with the NBA draft taking place in late June.