Mexico forward Karim Lopez makes NBA Draft history
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- June 24, 2026
Karim Lopez is first Mexican-born player picked in first round of NBA Draft
Four years after Karim Lopez left Mexico for Spain to begin his circuitous march to the National Basketball Association, the teen from Hermosillo, Sonora, made history. The 19-year-old Lopez became the first Mexican born player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday night.
“I’ve always been a confident person, a confident player just from all the hard work I put in,” he said. “I know who I am. I know what I’m capable of. It’s just about continuing … that and just showing it.”
Lopez was picked 21st overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, who traded down with the Detroit Pistons to make the selection. The eldest son of former Mexican national basketball team guard Jesús Hiram López moved to Spain in 2022 at 14 years old.
Circuitous route to NBA
Lopez spent the last two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers of Australia’s National Basketball League in his quest to prepare for the 2026 NBA Draft. He joined the NBL at 17 years old after three seasons in Spain, one on Club Joventut’s senior squad and two with Club Joventut “B” squad.
Two months after he turned 19, Lopez helped achieve his childhood dream. He is the latest international star picked in the NBA Draft, but the first to go in the first round from Mexico.
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Players from 43 countries played in the NBA this past season – totaling 135 international players – but none of them were born in Mexico. Moreover, the last eight NBA Most Valuable Players were born outside of the United States.
“It’s another one to the list,” he said. “I mean, the last MVPs, a lot of them have been international, as well. It’s just about keep growing the game, keep expanding it to different places, different countries.
“Basketball is a great sport. Going to keep growing, and I think we’re on the right path.”
Indeed, there was an international flavor to the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg, the 2026 Big Ten Player of the Year, was taken 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors.
Platano Power headed to Golden State
Lendeborg was born in Puerto Rico to parents from the Dominican Republic. He identifies as Dominican American.
“Draymond (Green) was a pivotal, pivotal piece to all the championships that they have won,” Lendeborg said of the Warriors’ veteran forward. “He’s a phenomenal player and passer and all that stuff. He does all the little things well.
“So I feel like learning from him and trying to get him to be my vet would be the most crucial part for me in my development. He’s a good guy. I know he’s a Michigan State guy. I’m really not too fond of that. But I’m definitely excited to be able to meet him and speak to him in person and learn. Just learn everything I can.
Aday Mara, who helped Lendeborg lead Michigan to the 2026 NCAA Tournament title, is from Zaragoza, Spain.
Mara, a 7-foot-3 center, was picked right after Lendeborg by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I think international basketball, European basketball, is getting better and better,” Mara said. “We saw that every year that these really good players on a high level from different countries, so I’m very happy that that is happening and I’m excited to be on that list, too.”
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer Jose de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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