NBA prospect expected to become first Mexican-born basketball player to be taken in first round of NBA Draft
By Michael Duarte
Published on March 23, 2026.
Karim Lopez, a 6-foot-9 forward from Hermosillo, Mexico, is expected to be the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. This is a significant development for a country that has long watched the NBA from a distance. Lopez, ranked No. 11 on ESPN's big board, has played two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia's NBL and set a single-season scoring record for the NBL Next Stars. He still needs to improve his jumper and his footwork, but with the right development, he has a high ceiling. The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in late June.
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