Karim López, a 19-year-old basketball star from Hermosillo, Sonora, made history as the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday evening in New York City. He was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies as the 21st overall pick.
“It’s a great opportunity,” López said in his post-draft press conference. “It’s something that I don’t take for granted and that I really take with pride, you know, representing all those people and making them proud.”
¡DE SONORA PARA EL MUNDO! 🇲🇽🙌
Karim López es seleccionado por los Detroit Pistons (Pick 21) 🏀🔥
Primer mexicano en ser seleccionado en primera ronda del draft 👏 pic.twitter.com/iub510KLga
— ESPN.com.mx (@ESPNmx) June 24, 2026
López, a 6-foot-8 forward, left Mexico when he was 14 years old to train at the Jovenut Youth Academy in Spain. He developed his talents in Europe before playing professionally for the New Zealand Breakers of Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL). During his past season with the Breakers, López averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game against older professionals in the NBL.
After hearing his name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, López flashed the inside of his suit jacket, which featured multiple prints of the Mexican flag and other representations of his faith.
“I’m blessed. I mean, I have no words,” a visibly emotional López told ESPN in the moments after his selection.
López is just the second Mexican-born player to hear his name called in the NBA Draft after Eduardo Nájera was chosen in the second round (38th overall) by the Dallas Mavericks in 2000. Najera played in the NBA for 10 seasons after a standout collegiate career with Oklahoma.
Mexican basketball star Karim López set to make NBA Draft history on June 25
Nájera and now López are part of a small roster of Mexican NBA stars that included Horacio Lamas (1996-1998), Gustavo Ayón (2011-2014) and Jorge Gutierrez (2013-2016). Lopez’s father is Jesús Hiram López, who averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game throughout a long career with the Mexican national team.
López excels at using his size and strength to score near the basket, which has contributed to his near 50% field goal mark. He was a defensive star as well, racking up a combined 66 steals and blocks, the highest marks among draft-eligible young talent from the NBL.
Draft scouts noted that López still needs improvement in his jump shot, which has become a crucial aspect of top-level play for NBA big men.
“I love [López’s] frame and physicality. I love that he rebounds and attacks with aggression. But I’m not sure he’s good enough without the ball to make an early impact in the NBA,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote in a scouting report. “Still, I’m willing to take the chance late in the first round to find out if he can develop the shot and defense.”
ESPN had a higher outlook on López, ranking him as their top international prospect while projecting him to be taken in the top 14, known as a lottery pick.
Memphis moved back five spots in the draft to select López in a pick-swap with Detroit. The Grizzlies were a surprising landing spot, as the team was expected to pursue guards after selecting former Duke star Cameron Boozer with the third overall pick — another big who can dominate near the rim.
López can potentially be an instant-impact player for the rebuilding Grizzlies, who finished the 2025-2026 regular season 25-57 and are currently ranked No. 13 in the Western Conference.
Mexico News Daily
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