Mexico's Karim Lopez Declares for 2026 NBA Draft Mexico’s Karim Lopez has officially announced his intention to enter the 2026 NBA Draft, according to reports from ESPN’s Jeremy Woo and Shams Charania. The 19-year-old forward, who is considered one of the top prospects in international basketball, could become the first player of Mexican descent selected in the first round of the draft. Lopez is the son of Jesús Hiram Lopez, a former member of Mexico’s national team. Lopez has spent the past two seasons competing for the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). As part of the league’s Next Stars program, he has gained significant attention for his performances on a roster featuring veteran players. This season, he averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the field in 25.6 minutes per contest. His standout efforts included a 32-point performance in a January 30 win over the Melbourne Tigers. Lopez also set a single-season Next Stars record by scoring 358 points across 30 starts. He matched the combined steals and blocks of former 2025 second-round pick Alex Toohey, tallying 66 defensive contributions. His physical attributes, including a height of 6-9 and a 7-1 wingspan, have drawn interest from NBA scouts. Despite the Breakers finishing with a 14-20 record in the regular season, the team claimed the NBL’s inaugural Ignite Cup, a tournament within the regular season. Lopez’s decision to declare for the draft comes as the 2026 NBA Draft is expected to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. The NBA Draft Combine will take place from May 10 to 17 in Chicago, followed by the draft itself in late June. His inclusion in the draft class highlights the growing global reach of the NBA and the increasing presence of international talent in the league.#nba_draft #karim_lopez #new_zealand_breakers #nbl #jess_hiram_lopez
