Karim Lopez, No. 1 international recruit for 2026 NBA Draft, discusses his future

One of the top 2025 recruits is going the pro route rather than college, heading to the NBL.

Karim Lopez, a top-20 recruit in the 2025 class and the No. 1 international recruit in the 2026 NBA Draft, is headed to the New Zealand Breakers as a part of the NBL’s Next Stars, he announced on Friday.

Lopez, a 6’8”, 195-pound wing, is considered the “future face of Mexican basketball and a potential lottery pick” by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, as his overall set of traits makes him an appealing prospect in the 2026 draft.