The Memphis Grizzlies selected Karim López with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but Tuesday night was about much more than basketball.
Upon hearing his name called, the 19-year-old became the first Mexican-born player in NBA history to be selected in the first round.
Karim López Candidly Reacts After Making NBA History
López’s historic selection is a landmark moment for Mexican basketball. Before López, Eduardo Nájera was the only Mexican-born player ever drafted into the NBA, going 38th overall in the second round of the 2000 NBA Draft.
Following his selection by Memphis, López was asked what it meant to become the first Mexican-born player ever picked in the first round. The Grizzlies forward became emotional while trying to describe the achievement.
“This is super special, honestly,” López said. “I’m blessed. I have no words.”
The Hermosillo, Sonora, native also used the moment to proudly showcase his roots. During the interview, López revealed a custom lining inside his draft night jacket featuring the Mexican flag.
“I just wanted to represent my culture, represent where I’m from, represent my faith, and represent myself basically. Show the people who I am,” López explained.
Karim Lopez was emotional as he became the first Mexican born player to be drafted in the 1st round
“This is super special. I have no words” https://t.co/FeZpOek8kw pic.twitter.com/9GKGBTJrcP
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) June 24, 2026
López may be one of the lesser-known prospects in this year’s first round, as his path to the NBA was anything but conventional. After being born in Mexico, López moved to Spain as a teenager to join Joventut Badalona.
He later spent two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian National Basketball League through the NBL’s Next Stars program. The 2025-26 season was López’s breakout, when he averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game before entering the draft as an international prospect.
Basketball runs deep in the López family, as his father, Jesús Hiram López, played professionally in Mexico for more than a decade and represented the Mexican national team.
Judging by his reaction on draft night, López understands the magnitude of his accomplishment. The youngster now carries the hopes of a basketball-loving nation that has historically been underrepresented in the NBA, and López appears ready to fully embrace that responsibility.
