The Mexican athlete Karim López is poised to make history on June 23, right in the middle of the World Cup, but it has nothing to do with soccer.
López, an 18-year-old from Hermosillo, is a highly touted basketball prospect and is expected to be the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft this summer.
On Monday, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news that López — who spent the past two seasons playing for the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) — officially declared for the draft.
NBA eligibility rules require international players under the age of 22 — López will turn 19 on April 12 — to formally apply in writing 60 days before the draft.
After confirming his intention to enter the upcoming draft, López spoke about his dreams of playing in the premier basketball league in the world.
“It’s been … a goal my whole life to play in the NBA,” he 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 6’9” forward could be selected as high as No. 11, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, who says “NBA teams are optimistic about his mix of size, skill and toughness.”
In projecting López’s draft prospects, USA Today NBA staff writer Bryan Kalbrosky believes that although he still needs some development, “the physically gifted forward is widely seen as the top prospect from this class currently playing overseas.”
During the just completed NBL season, López — the son of former Mexican national team player Jesús Hiram López — averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2 assists per game, while shooting better than 50% from the field.
Former NBL players now starring in the NBA include LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls) and Alex Sarr (selected second overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards).
Only one other Mexican-born player has ever been drafted by an NBA team and that came 26 years ago when Eduardo Najera was selected in the 2nd round with the 38th overall pick.
Among the four Mexicans to have played in the NBA, Najera — a native of Meoqui, Chihuahua — had the longest career, playing 678 games (playoffs included) from 2000 to 2012.
The other three Mexicans to have worn NBA jerseys are Horacio Llamas from El Rosario, Sinaloa (28 games from 1996-1998), Gustavo Ayón from Tepic, Nayarit (135 games from 2011-2014) and Jorge Gutiérrez from Chihuahua city (47 games from 2013-2016).
With reports from ESPN, Yahoo Sports and Clutch Points
