Showing posts for: Karim Lopez
NBL Next Stars Wrapped – Round 2

THE SECOND round of the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season took place last weekend, and once again, the competition’s Next Stars were prominent across the courts in an exciting batch of games. Following the success of Rocco Zikarsky and Alex Toohey from the class of 2024, both of whom were selected in the most […]

Lopez the shining light despite another loss

ALTHOUGH the New Zealand Breakers sustained a third loss for the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season, this time at the hands of the Perth Wildcats, Next Star Karim Lopez was able to still catch the eye. Now in his second year with the Breakers in the NBA pathway program, Lopez was touted for an […]

Wildcats win away in terrific triumph over Breakers

OVERCOMING the biggest road trip in the National Basketball League (NBL), the Perth Wildcats claimed their first win of the 2025/26 season by defeating the New Zealand Breakers at Spark Arena on Saturday evening. Both teams came into the clash searching for their first win of the fixture after sustaining losses in the opening week […]

NBL Next Stars Wrapped – Round 1

THE FIRST round of the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season took place over the weekend, marking the first official appearance of the next batch of young players in the competition’s Next Stars program. Following the success of Rocco Zikarsky and Alex Toohey from the class of 2024, both of whom were selected in the […]

Bullets blitz Breakers to open season in style

IN THE second match of the 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season, the Brisbane Bullets got the job done during their road trip, defeating the New Zealand Breakers by nine points at Spark Arena on Friday night. New Zealand Breakers (95) def. by Brisbane Bullets (104) Both sides had enjoyed productive recruiting stints over the […]

2025/26 NBL Team Preview – New Zealand Breakers

FRESH off emerging victorious from the National Basketball League (NBL) Blitz preseason tournament last weekend, the New Zealand Breakers will be hoping to translate that form to the 2025/26 regular season portion of the fixture. The Breakers showed glimpses of their potential throughout their last campaign, but still fell to ninth place, having won only […]

2025/26 NBL Next Star preview – Karim Lopez

ONE OF the strongest performing players in the program last season, Karim Lopez is entering his second campaign as an NBL Next Star, having already firmed as a top 10 fancy for the 2026 NBA Draft on the back of his efforts. The New Zealand Breakers were thrilled with the level of output and upside […]

NBL Next Stars preview series starts next week

THE 2025/26 National Basketball League (NBL) season is around the corner, which means there will be another crop of Next Stars shining in the professional competition in a bid to make their NBA dreams come true. Last season saw two NBL Next Stars make their dreams a reality, when the program helped Alex Toohey and […]

Kouakou-Heugue set to wonder as Wildcats Next Star

NOA KOUAKOU-HENGUE has become the second Frenchman to join the Perth Wildcats as an NBL Next Star, after joining the pathway for the 2025/26 season following an eye-catching stint on the international stage. A big man who brings plenty of versatility to the table, Kouakou-Heugue stands a mighty six-foot-11, and is rising as a prospect […]

TOP 10 – NBL Next Stars

THE NATIONAL Basketball League (NBL) Next Stars program has proved fruitful as a pathway to the NBA Draft, with plenty of players reaching the top level after honing their craft in a professional competition for a season or two. There have even been a handful of players that have been selected in the Top 10, […]

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