Harmosillo, Mexico – Less from a block away from the city center, he practiced as a child on the concrete court, NBA Draft Possibility and New Zealand Breakers Star Forward Karim Lopez A ball is bouncing for cameras. A woman notices the scene and contacted her immediately after sure that the cameras stopped rolling:
“You’re that, you are not?”
Lopez stops and smiles. The woman puts her hand on her mouth. “You are that basketball player, you’re that!” He said in Spanish. He is equally Starstruk and confusing, being aware of being in the presence of a celebrity, but is definitely not sure who it is. She is just nervous and assures the camera crew that her name is at the tip of her tongue.
For lopez, which presents for a selfie and signs an autograph with the woman, it is a level of fame that he will happily tolerate at this point, knowing that it is developing quickly. In the 6-Foot-9, it is already difficult for an 18-year-old child not to pay attention to anyone anywhere, especially in his northwest Mexico’s hometown of Hermocilo, Sonora, located about 300 miles south of Phoenix
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After filming Raps, a group of about a dozen passers -by gather to follow the leadership of the woman. There are more selfies and group shots. Even a couple of basketball are designed to sign. While Lopez is yet for another picture, a man confidently assures his wife that the teenager is “a big NBA star.”
Well, not yet.
Within a few months, Lopez can make good on that claim and can become an infallible celebrity for millions of fans of the entire Mexico, America and wherever Pro Basketball is followed. He is ready to become the first Mexican -born player to go to the first round of the NBA draft and has joined a handful of players in the country to play there in about 80 years.
In Spanish, Lopez said, “I was playing basketball; I mean, I like to say that I had a ball in my hand since the day I was born.” Phaneom sat with ESPN to discuss his story for the month of Hispanic heritage.
Lopez’s second – and possibly the possibility of the season in Australia’s National Basketball League began in September. In the next few months, NBA Scouts will distribute their final decisions on it. An NBL coach, Ilwara Hawks Justin Tatam – Father of Boston Celtics star Jason – Lopez said Efficient to her age and height, help her to make a “quick effect” In the Australian League. Teenager is also a game Stretched comparison Dr. J. For itself, mythological Julius Erving,
ESPN NBA draft analyst Jeremy Wu said, “His game is compatible with modern NBA.” “Teams are constantly looking for long circumference players who can pass, handle and shoot.”
Lopez in most mock drafts is going into the top 10, which will easily make them the best in the history of NBA. Eduardo NajeraThose who logged in more than 600 regular-session games in the league with five clubs, thus only there are drafts born in Mexican, Houston Rockets With 38th pick in 2000.
Born for Hoop
Basketball has been a central theme in Lopez’s life, the day he was born, it is more involved. On April 12, 2007, the cause of basketball could not be the father and the newborn sons together, although it would later serve as a path to success in life.
“I was not there [Karim] Karim’s father Jesus Hiram Lopez said, “I was in a senior year of my college, and I remember my wife was in labor for several hours.”
Hiram Bolver, Missouri, was about 1,500 miles away, concluding both his studies and basketball season for the NCAA Division II program Southwest Baptist. Hiram barely focused on the final, saying that his wife, Claudia Mondka, and his newborn son were performing well. Claudia’s parents eventually called with the news, but it would be more than a month until Hiram could meet Karim in a person.
Thus, Hiram has since made a point to stay close to his family. She proceeded in Mexico, even with some stents in Hermosilo, Karim often allowed her father to join hard wood. The family recalled Karim, barely a child, secretly in court, slowly begins his relationship with the game under gym lights.
“I have to go [with my dad] For the Games and I will try to help him, “Karim said.” When both teams go to the locker room, I will go to court and shoot a little bit. ,
Hiram encouraged Karim to join the youth teams. Hermosilo is the state capital of Sonora, a region that has been affected by American Games such as long -term baseball and basketball, which allowed the constant level of competition for lope.
Like his father before him, Karim has now been a part of the Mexican National Team for years, as well as other Sonora players such as Francisco Cruz, who play in Türkiye, and coach Omar Quinto. Despite its rapid growth at such a young age, there was no time ago when a pipe was dreaming when the NBA was on the tail. Lopez’s young coaches, Alejandro Leva, remember a significant moment in which the young man kept his career in pace.
“As a child, Karim was not one of the top players [on our team]This is important to say, “Leva said, who has coached young basketball in Mexico for 17 years and grew up with Hiram in Hermosilo.” Karim is part of a very talented crop of players here in Sonora. He would be the best player in behavior, but something happened during the actual games. He was not like that. ,
When Lopez was 12 years old, Leva gave him coaching in a young tournament in Las Vegas and saw that things start coming together for the young player. A year later, the footage of Lopez Dunking caught fire between basketball fans and media in Mexico. Shortly thereafter, Pro Scouts began registering their presence in Hermosilo.
In 2022, when Lopez was 14 years old, the Spanish club Joventut Badalona offered him a contract and a route with his young squads, for his top flight. Club is remarkable to develop NBA players Rudy fernandez And Ricky Rubio, experienced point guard, who spent more than a decade in the league with five franchisees.
After two sessions-and two titles with a young team of Joventte, Lopez started as a professional during the 2023–24 season. At the end of the year, he received a proposal from breakers at NBL.
Top -10 talent
Last December, Mondka flew from Mexico to New Zealand to spend Christmas breaks with Hiram and Karim in Auckland. This was the first time he saw them in a few months, dating NBL for the start of the season. The Lopez Mondka family spent less than two weeks before returning to Claudia and Karim’s younger sister.
“I think it is a difficult part of his career, in constant pace. But I hope he enjoys it all and gets accustomed to it, because it has become a ritual [for the family]”Mondka said.” At one point, I supported my husband with her supporting career, and this is the same with my son. ,
Lopez has easily taken to NBL. As part of the next stars of the league, designed to attract young possibilities and prepare them for NBA as an alternative to college basketball, Lopez is now mentioned in the same breath as some notable company. Lamelo ballof Charlotte Hornets, Alex Sarr of Washington wizards And Josh Giddi of Chicago Bulls All the former are the next stars, and the three moved to the top 6 of their respective drafts.
After his first season with breakers, Lopez is ready to join the trio in NBA. In the previous season, he became the youngest player in NBL history, with a double-dabble posted, with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Sydney Kings. In January, he scored 20 points for the first time against South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Wu said, “What he is doing is impressive, just because there are very few players who are able to walk on that path from Mexico,” Wu said. “I think going somewhere in the top 10 [of the 2026 draft] Is in the game. ,
A quick look in Lopez compilation on YouTube can also educate the most casual fan why Wu and other draft experts are so high on it. Lopez scored 9.6 points and gave 4.7 rebound per game per game in his debut season, an average of 22.9 minutes per game. Despite its height, Lopez handles the ball like a point guard and walks easily among the defenders. Their long weapons and wings have allowed them to create highlight reel with demon blocks on defense and sting breathtaking on crime.
Lopez told you that their shooting is in progress. In general terms, however, the teenager constantly corresponds with former NBA players.
“What can happen; what can be done”
All indications point to the selection of the first round, a probability carefully optimistic about Lopez’s family and friends. He only allows a few moments to flow and thinks about it before he catches himself and shakes it.
“Always there is a moment when you are going to sleep and you start wondering what can happen,” Lopez said. “But I try not to think too much about it because it can be a distraction.”
What a moment should come, Lopez will become the fifth player born in Mexico to play in NBA, a league that has made major progress to woo fans of Mexican heritage despite a possible lack of on-court representation. Mexican American player like East Golden State Warriors Forward Juan Toscano-Anderson and Current Miami Heat Guard/forward Jaime jaquez jrMore than 30 million NBAs have emerged as popular ambassadors for fans, which matters the league within the country’s borders.
Toscano-Derceon has become a draw for two stents with the Capitance of G League in Mexico City, the first franchise in the NBA pyramid, based outside the US or Canada. For almost a decade, the NBA itself has made regular pilgrimage in Mexico City, playing regular-season games in packed Arenas.
It is safe to say that the lopez joint will be more than a wing in the league cap, making it debut in the 2026-27 NBA season, taking it to unexpected levels of fame as one of the sole representatives of the country.
For now, Save for a small crowd near the Hermocillo City Center or during the NBL season in Auckland, lopez enjoys partial oblivion. He describes it as a kind of dual position in which he is focusing firmly on the ground and focusing on the work in the hand, but allows himself to keep his head so many times in the clouds anytime.
“I hope Labron is still there if I go to NBA,” Lopez said. “Anything can happen, but I hope he is there so I can play with my idol.”
He captures himself again.
“I mean, finally, I am not [in the NBA] Nevertheless, I have to work to go to that moment and make my dreams come true. ,
