In Hermosillo, Mexico, near the bustling city center, on the familiar concrete court where he honed his skills as a boy, Karim López, the promising NBA draft prospect and standout forward for the New Zealand Breakers, was captured on camera dribbling a basketball. Moments after the filming concluded, a passerby recognized him and eagerly approached.
“You`re him, aren`t you?” she inquired.
López paused, offering a warm smile. The woman gasped, placing a hand over her mouth. “You`re that basketball player, it`s you!” she exclaimed in Spanish. Clearly starstruck yet slightly uncertain of his exact identity, she acknowledged being in the presence of a notable figure. She nervously confided to the camera crew that his name was just on the tip of her tongue.
López, happy to pose for a selfie and sign an autograph, embraces this burgeoning level of celebrity, recognizing it as a sign of his rapidly evolving career. Standing at 6-foot-9, the 18-year-old already finds it challenging to blend in, particularly in his hometown of Hermosillo, Sonora, in northwest Mexico, approximately 300 miles south of Phoenix.
As the filming concluded, a small crowd of about a dozen people quickly formed, inspired by the woman`s interaction. More selfies were taken, group photos snapped, and a few basketballs materialized for him to sign. While López patiently posed, one man proudly told his wife, “He`s a major NBA star.”
Not quite yet, though.
In the coming months, López is poised to fulfill that prediction, transforming into a recognizable figure for millions of basketball enthusiasts across Mexico, the U.S., and globally. He is on track to become the first Mexican-born player ever selected in the first round of the NBA draft, joining only a handful of countrymen who have played in the league over the past eight decades.
“I was born playing basketball; I like to say I`ve had a ball in my hand since day one,” López stated in Spanish. This rising star recently shared his personal journey in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
López commenced his second, and likely final, season in Australia`s National Basketball League (NBL) this September. In the ensuing months, NBA scouts will meticulously evaluate his talent. Justin Tatum, coach of the Illawarra Hawks and father to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, praised López`s advanced skill set for his age and stature, noting his immediate impact in the NBL. The young player`s style has even evoked comparisons to basketball icon Julius Erving, often known as “Dr. J.”
Jeremy Woo, an NBA draft analyst, commented that López`s playing style is “ideally suited for the contemporary NBA,” adding that “teams are always seeking tall perimeter players capable of passing, handling the ball, and shooting.”
Current mock drafts frequently project López as a top-10 pick, which would position him as the highest-rated Mexican prospect in NBA history. To date, Eduardo Najera, drafted 38th by the Houston Rockets in 2000 and having played over 600 regular-season games for five different NBA teams, remains the only Mexican-born player ever drafted into the league.
A Life Defined by Basketball
From the very moment of his birth on April 12, 2007, basketball has been a defining force in Karim López`s life. Ironically, the sport initially kept father and son apart, yet it would ultimately forge a path to success for them both.
Jesús Hiram López, Karim’s father, recounted, “I wasn`t present for Karim`s birth. I was finishing my senior year of college and vividly recall the anxiety as my wife endured many hours of labor.”
Hiram was situated almost 1,500 miles away in Bolivar, Missouri, completing his academic year and the basketball season for Southwest Baptist, an NCAA Division II program. He remembers struggling to concentrate on his final exams, eagerly awaiting news that his wife, Claudia Mondaca, and their new son were healthy. It was Claudia`s parents who finally delivered the joyful update, but over a month passed before Hiram could physically meet Karim.
Following this, Hiram prioritized staying near his family. He pursued a professional basketball career in Mexico, including several periods in Hermosillo, which frequently allowed Karim to accompany him to the court. The family cherishes memories of Karim, a mere toddler, playfully slipping onto the practice court, gradually developing his connection with the sport beneath the bright gym lights.
Karim shared, “I`d attend games with my dad and try to assist him. Whenever the teams retreated to the locker room, I`d sneak onto the court and shoot some hoops.”
Hiram encouraged Karim to participate in youth basketball leagues. Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora, is a region with a strong tradition of American sports like baseball and basketball, providing López with ample opportunities for consistent competitive play.
Following in his father`s footsteps, Karim has represented the Mexican national team for several years, alongside fellow Sonoran talents like Francisco Cruz (who plays professionally in Turkey) and coach Omar Quintero. Despite his swift progress at a young age, a spot in the NBA was once considered a distant dream. Alejandro Leyva, López`s youth coach, remembers a crucial turning point that propelled the young player`s career forward.
“It`s important to note that as a child, Karim wasn`t among our team`s elite players,” stated Leyva, who has coached youth basketball in Mexico for 17 years and grew up with Hiram in Hermosillo. “While Karim belonged to a highly skilled group of players in Sonora, he excelled in practice but struggled to perform consistently during actual games.”
At age 12, under Leyva`s coaching at a Las Vegas youth tournament, López began to show significant improvement and consistency. A year later, video clips of López executing dunks went viral among Mexican basketball fans and media. This viral attention quickly led to professional scouts converging on Hermosillo.
In 2022, at just 14 years old, López secured a contract with Spanish club Joventut Badalona, which offered a direct path from its youth teams to its senior professional squad. This club has a strong reputation for nurturing NBA talent, including Rudy Fernandez and veteran point guard Ricky Rubio, who enjoyed a decade-long career with five different NBA franchises.
Following two successful seasons and two championships with Joventut`s youth team, López made his professional debut during the 2023-24 season. By the end of that year, he received an appealing offer from the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL.
A Top-Tier Prospect
Last December, Claudia Mondaca traveled from Mexico to Auckland, New Zealand, to spend the Christmas holidays with Hiram and Karim. This marked their first family reunion since the NBL season began months prior. The López Mondaca family enjoyed a brief visit of under two weeks before Claudia and Karim`s younger sister returned home.
Mondaca reflected, “The constant travel and relocation are challenging aspects of his career. However, I hope he embraces it and becomes accustomed, as it`s become a family tradition. I once supported my husband`s professional journey, and now I`m doing the same for my son.”
López has seamlessly adapted to the NBL, particularly through its Next Stars program, which aims to develop young talent for the NBA as an alternative to the collegiate route. He is now frequently associated with illustrious alumni of the program, including LaMelo Ball (Charlotte Hornets), Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards), and Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls), all of whom were selected within the top six picks of their respective NBA drafts.
After an impressive debut season with the Breakers, López appears ready to follow these previous Next Stars into the NBA. Last season, he achieved a historic milestone by becoming the youngest player in NBL history to record a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against the Sydney Kings. In January, he further showcased his offensive prowess by breaking the 20-point mark for the first time against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Woo remarked that López`s achievements are “remarkable, especially given how few players have successfully navigated this path from Mexico.” He suggested that a “top-10 selection in the 2026 draft is a distinct possibility.”
Even a brief look at López`s highlight reels on YouTube will quickly reveal to any basketball fan why analysts like Woo are so enthusiastic about his potential. In his inaugural season, López averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in just 22.9 minutes per game. Despite his considerable height, he exhibits exceptional ball-handling skills, moving fluidly past defenders. His impressive length and wingspan frequently contribute to spectacular defensive blocks and awe-inspiring offensive dunks, making him a consistent presence in highlight reels.
López candidly admits that his shooting remains an area for development. Nevertheless, the teenager generally compares favorably to many former NBA players in various aspects of his game.
Envisioning the Future
All indicators suggest a first-round draft selection, a prospect López`s family and friends approach with guarded optimism. He permits himself only fleeting moments to contemplate this future before re-focusing on the present.
“Just before falling asleep, I sometimes find myself dwelling on `what could be`,” López confessed. “However, I make an effort not to overthink it, as it could become a distraction.”
If drafted, López will be only the fifth Mexican-born player to join the NBA. The league has actively cultivated its Mexican fan base, numbering over 30 million, even with limited on-court representation. Mexican American players like Juan Toscano-Anderson and Miami Heat guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. have become influential ambassadors for the sport in the region.
Should López make his NBA debut in the 2026-27 season, his presence would be a significant boon for the league, elevating him to unprecedented fame as one of Mexico`s sole representatives.
Currently, López maintains a degree of anonymity, aside from occasional small gatherings in Hermosillo or during the NBL season in Auckland. He characterizes this period as a “dual state” – one where he remains grounded and focused on his immediate goals, while also permitting himself to dream big about his future.
“I hope LeBron is still playing when I reach the NBA,” López expressed. “Anything is possible, but I truly wish he`s there so I can compete with or against my idol.”
He quickly brought himself back to reality.
“Ultimately,” he added, “I`m not in the NBA yet. I must continue to work diligently to achieve that goal and make my dreams a reality.”
