According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo and Shams Charania, Mexican player Karim Lopez has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft. Lopez is a highly regarded prospect who could become the first Mexican-American player selected in the first round. He is the son of former Mexican national team player Jesus Hiram Lopez.
Lopez has spent the past two seasons playing for the New Zealand Trail Blazers in the Australian NBL as part of the league’s “Next Stars” program. Before joining Breakers, he played for Spanish club Badalona Joventut.
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Even though Lopez is only 19 years old, he’s already at the top of the Breakers’ veteran roster. This season, he averaged 25.6 minutes per game, scored 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, and shot 49% from the field. His performance included a 32-point performance in a win over Melbourne on January 30.
Lopez also set a single-season Rising Star record with 358 points in 30 starts and matched former 2025 second-round pick Alex Toohey with 66 steals and blocks. NBA teams may also be attracted to Lopez’s 6-foot-9 frame with a 7-foot-1 wingspan.
Although the Vandals finished the season with a 14-20 record, they still won the NBL’s first Ignite Cup regular season championship.
Lopez now joins what is expected to be a loaded draft class. The NBA Draft Combine will be held in Chicago from May 10-17, with the NBA Draft scheduled for the end of June.