Mexican prospect Karim Lopez declares for NBA draft

Mexican prospect Karim Lopez has declared for the 2026 NBA draft, he instructed ESPN on Monday.

The No. 11 player on ESPN’s big board, Lopez spent the previous two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers within the Australian NBL.

“It’s been my dream and my goal my whole life to play in the NBA,” Lopez instructed ESPN. “Honestly, since I can remember. I was probably like 5 years old, making drawings of myself playing in the NBA. … It’s pretty special, you know, to be in this position right now.”

Lopez, 19, averaged 11.9 factors, 6.1 rebounds and 49% taking pictures from the sector this season in 25.6 minutes per recreation. A 6-foot-9 ahead with perimeter ability, he set a number of marks for draft-eligible NBL Next Stars, together with the single-season factors report, totaling 358 in his 30 begins. He tied 2025 draftee Alex Toohey’s report for complete steals and blocks with 66.

The Breakers went 14-20, however they gained the NBL’s inaugural Ignite Cup (regular-season event) in February, with Lopez enjoying a key function on a veteran-led staff. Coming off a summer season again harm, he took a step ahead in his second NBL season, together with his 32-point recreation in a Jan. 30 win over Melbourne because the excessive level.

“[The NBL] was a lot of learning in both years, a great chapter of my life,” Lopez mentioned. “I think once I was completely healthy, [this season] took off in the right direction. Obviously, I would have liked to make the playoffs, but winning the Ignite Cup was big time. I’m really happy about the experience I gained, all the preparation.”

NBA scouts have been drawn to Lopez’s mixture of positional measurement, 7-1 wingspan, ball abilities, playmaking flashes and toughness — a mix of traits groups are likely to covet within the draft. His perimeter taking pictures and bodily explosiveness are areas to enhance heading into the predraft course of.

“I want to show NBA teams who I am,” Lopez mentioned. “Playing in a grown man league, it’s not easy. But there’s things I feel like people haven’t seen yet.”

The top-ranked worldwide prospect on ESPN’s draft rankings, Lopez is projected to turn into the primary participant born in Mexico to be chosen within the first spherical of the NBA draft. Lopez, whose father is former Mexican nationwide staff participant Jesús Hiram Lopez, moved to Spain at age 14 to hitch Spanish membership Joventut Badalona earlier than going to the Breakers in 2024.

“A goal of mine is to hopefully reach young people in Mexico,” mentioned Lopez, who was born in Hermosillo, Mexico. “Trying to grow the sport and inspire athletes and people in general to follow their dreams. Show people that it doesn’t matter where you’re from.”

The NBA draft mix will happen May 10-17 in Chicago. The draft will likely be held in late June.