ONE OF the most impressive prospects to come through the National Basketball League (NBL) Next Stars program, Karim Lopez wrapped up his time in the competition with another impressive performance as the New Zealand Breakers defeated the Adelaide 36ers to win the Ignite Cup.

In their final game of the 2025/26 fixture, the Breakers took on the contending Sixers in the decider for the in-season tournament, in what was going to be Lopez’s final game in the NBL. Strong performances to close out the month of January gave his NBA Draft stock a reasonable boost, highlighted by a 32-point performance in the win over Melbourne United.

Now projected to push inside the top-10 selections pending the remainder of the college season, Lopez closed out his season with another eye-catching outing as the Breakers defeated the Sixers to take home the cash prize and become the maiden Ignite Cup champions, getting the job done by three points in a thriller.

He was again among the most productive players on the court for New Zealand in its first win over the Sixers this season, with Lopez showing how well-rounded his game has become throughout his two years as a Next Star.

Adelaide 36ers (107) def. by New Zealand Breakers (111)

Karim Lopez – 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals

The wing prospect was able to cap off his time in the NBL in strong fashion as expected, playing a key role in winning and showing how well his game can translate to the NBA, having already thrived in a professional environment.

In a perfect indication of how far his game has come, Lopez kicked off the match by showing no hesitation from behind the arc, firing off a long-range shot to open his scoring account for the contest. He has also become a strong post-up option for the Breakers, able to take the opposition face-on, or dish out a pass as he was doing in the opening frame.

Now a crafty player on the driver, the Next Star caught the ball in the corner a few minutes into the match, dribbling across the lane with his right before stretching his body out to finish at the cup in creative fashion. He remained extremely active in the first term with both his scoring and passing, helping New Zealand generate a strong start to the contest.

Lopez started the second term with a nice offensive rebound and basket, reaching over the top of his opponent and using his wingspan to get first hands on the ball, before using his deft touch around the rim to find the bottom of the net.

The youngster’s basketball smarts continued to shine through with a nice bounce pass into the paint, finding Sam Mennenga after drawing in two opponents and giving his big man a wide open layup thanks to his elite vision and execution. He also hit the scoreboard himself shortly after with yet another offensive rebound and putback under the hoop.

Despite not being the tallest player, Lopez possesses elite footwork in the paint, which gives him a major advantage over opponents his size. On multiple occasions against the Sixers, he was able to use his pivot foot to get an easy look at the basket over his opponent, and it is an underrated trait within his game.

He finished the contest with 12 points on excellent shooting, nailing five of his six attempts from the field to go with eight boards (three offensive) and five assists. Heading into the NBA draft, Lopez needed to have a strong finish to his time in the NBL, and he did exactly that.