Former Breaker Karim Lopez drafted 21st to Memphis Grizzlies

The 19-year-old becomes the fifth New Zealand Breakers alumnus to reach the NBA and the first Mexican-born player taken in a draft's opening round.

Former New Zealand Breakers Next Star Karim Lopez has been selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The 19-year-old spent two seasons with the Breakers under the NBL's Next Star programme. Memphis acquired the selection from Detroit in a draft-night trade.

Lopez becomes the fifth former Breaker to be drafted to the NBA, following RJ Hampton (2020, pick 24), Ousmane Dieng (2022, pick 11), Hugo Besson (2022, pick 58) and Rayan Rupert (2023, pick 43). He is the 12th NBL Next Star player to go directly to the NBA.

The selection makes Lopez the first player born in Mexico to be chosen in an NBA draft's first round. His father represented Mexico as a professional player.

Breakers president of basketball operations Dillon Boucher attended the draft in Brooklyn to watch Lopez be selected.