How Mexican-born Karim Lopez made NBA Draft history in 2026 by becoming first-round selection
- On Tuesday, the Memphis Grizzlies acquired Mexican forward Karim Lopez with the 21st pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, making him the first Mexican-born player ever selected in the first round.
- Born in Hermosillo, Mexico, Lopez developed his game overseas as a teenager, playing one season in Spain before spending two years in New Zealand's National Basketball League.
- The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game while shooting 33 percent from three-point range last season. "I want to show people that come from the same situation I come from that it's possible," Lopez told Sports Illustrated.
- General Manager Zach Kleiman orchestrated multiple trades, moving back from the 16th pick to acquire Lopez and Duke forward Cameron Boozer while accumulating five additional second-round picks.
- Before Lopez, only Eduardo Najera was drafted from Mexico, selected in the second round in 2000 by the Houston Rockets. Former NBA player Najera told Andscape, "The future of Mexican basketball shines bright with his talent and determination leading the way.
31 Articles
31 Articles
Karim Lopez’s emotional response to making NBA draft history as Mexican-born player goes viral
The heartwarming response 19-year-old Karim Lopez had when being asked about becoming the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the NBA draft's first round is sparking buzz.
Karim López is Mexico's first-ever first-round NBA Draft pick
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 a…
Karim López wrote an unpublished page for Mexican basketball when he became the first basketball player born in the country to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.The sonorian was chosen with the 21st pick by the Detroit Pistons during the ceremony held in New York, although his fate changed minutes later since his rights were sent to the Memphis Grizzlies, a team with which he will start his way in the best basketball league in the …
Karim López made history by becoming the first player born in Mexico to be selected in the first round of the draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), marking an unprecedented achievement. Information indicates that Karim López was selected with the 21st pick by the Detroit Pistons, although minutes later his rights were finally transferred to the Grizzlies of Memphis. Karim López is selected by the Grizzlies of Memphis to play in the…
Rockdale Citizen & Newton Citizen
Marietta Daily JournalGrizzlies trade back twice in first round, draft Karim Lopez
The Memphis Grizzlies collected five future second-round draft picks to move back from No. 16 overall to No. 21 in the first round of the NBA draft Tuesday night.
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