THE youngest National Basketball League (NBL) Next Star for the 2024/25 season is Karim Lopez, who will be suiting up for the New Zealand Breakers, and already brings plenty of hype to the program and his time in the competition.

Despite not being draft eligible until 2026, Lopez is already talked about as one of the brightest young wings in the world, and now has the chance to showcase his talents against players that are in the prime of their respective careers.

Rounding out the first week of the Next Star spotlight series is one of the most exciting prospects in the program’s history. He is a projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and is the most impressive prospect the Breakers have ever secured.

Karim Lopez

Team: New Zealand Breakers
Birth nation: Mexico
Position: Small Forward
Age: 17
Height: 202cm (6ft, 8in)

Playing history

Lopez has been impressing over the past couple of years, playing in a plethora of competitions, largely in Spain. He has competed at Under-19 level, and in several grades of Spain’s main basketball competition, looking comfortable at any level.

Most impressively, he brings international experience to the table, having represented Mexico on multiple occasions, and appears a massive part of the country’s future given how bright his future looms at NBA level.

He shone brightest at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Americas, averaging more than 20 points per game to announce his standing as one of the brightest players in the world, and showing exactly what he is capable of.

Lopez also put his impressive traits on display at the Adidas Next Generation tournament playing for Joventut. The competition places the best Under-18 sides in Europe against each other, and Lopez averaged 17.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in an eye-catching display.

How he plays

Lopez has plenty of strengths in his game as it stands, and will only grow from the experience of playing in the NBL.

At six-foot-eight he brings size to the small forward position, and uses this to his advantage on the defensive end. He can pick his opponent up from full court and has the lateral movement to stay in front of the opposition. Lopez uses his wingspan to cut off vision from the ball-handler, and has sharp defensive instincts.

At the 2023 FIBA U16 Americas, he showed a capability to time his jumps to perfection, and read the play well enough to prove a strong paint protector, despite playing largely on the wing.

On the offensive end, Lopez is a smooth mover that makes shot creation look easy when given free reign to score in isolation. He can knock down a long range shot both off the dribble and in catch and shoot situations, and his ability to score off the ball allows him to slot into any lineup nicely.

Lopez is also capable of putting the ball on the floor and can initiate the offence himself with guard-like handles. He can break down the defender and get to the basket if left one-on-one. Although he will come up against some tough and scrappy defence at NBL level, his skills should translate.

Prediction

Although he is just 17 years of age, Lopez is a tremendously exciting prospect, and could even start as a member of New Zealand’s squad this season. He will bring plenty of attention to the Breakers given his potential, and will test his skills against fully developed athletes.