Mexico’s Karim Lopez has reportedly declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo and Shams Charania. Lopez is a highly touted prospect and could become the first player of Mexican descent selected in the first round. He is the son of former Mexican national team player Jesús Hiram Lopez.
Lopez has spent the past two seasons playing for the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL as part of the league’s Next Stars program. Before joining the Breakers, he played for Spanish club Joventut Badalona.
Despite being just 19 years old, Lopez has emerged as a standout on a veteran Breakers roster. This season, he averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field in 25.6 minutes per game. His performances included a 32-point outing in a January 30 win over Melbourne.
Lopez also set a single-season Next Stars record with 358 points across 30 starts and matched former 2025 second-round pick Alex Toohey with a combined 66 steals and blocks. NBA teams could also be drawn to Lopez’s size at 6-9 with a 7-1 wingspan.
Although the Breakers finished 14-20 this season, they captured the NBL’s inaugural Ignite Cup, a regular-season tournament.
Lopez now joins what is expected to be a loaded draft class. The NBA Draft Combine will take place May 10-17 in Chicago, with the NBA Draft scheduled for late June.
Read the full article here
