Another name is officially in the 2026 NBA Draft, and it’s one scouts have been watching for a while.
Projected lottery pick Karim Lopez has declared for the draft, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo and Shams Charania.
Lopez checks in at No. 11 on ESPN’s latest big board and is currently viewed as the top international prospect in the class. If things break right, he could also make a little history as the first Mexico-born player selected in the first round.
“It’s been my dream and my goal my whole life to play in the NBA,” Lopez said. “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.”
The 19-year-old forward spent the past two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL, continuing to build his case against pro-level competition.
He averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49 percent from the field in 25.6 minutes per game this season. More than the numbers, though, it’s the progression that has stood out.
Lopez set a record for draft-eligible NBL Next Stars with 358 total points and showed flashes of real offensive versatility, including a 32-point outing in late January.
Scouts are intrigued by the full package. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-1 wingspan, Lopez brings size, ball skills and some playmaking feel, along with a willingness to mix it up physically.
“I want to show NBA teams who I am,” Lopez said. “Playing in a grown man league, it’s not easy. But there’s things I feel like people haven’t seen yet.”
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