PHILADELPHIA – Other than being 6-foot-8, Karim Lopez otherwise went unnoticed as he ate his chicken parmigiana at a well-known Italian restaurant in the City of Brotherly Love. Little did the patrons know that in two years this teenager could become a familiar face if he makes history as the first native Mexican to become a first-round NBA draft pick.

“I don’t really think much about the pressure of it all,” said Lopez, 17, at Giuseppe & Sons the day after his New Zealand Breakers played the Philadelphia 76ers in an exhibition game Oct. 7. “I just try to put my head down and work every day. I obviously view myself as a Mexican. But in the sense of me competing against other Americans or other players from around the world, I don’t really think much about that.

“I feel like on the basketball court we’re all human. Just me against you. And I’ll try and go at you and just try and dominate you.”

In sports, Mexico is more known for producing boxers, soccer and baseball players rather than basketball stars. Former NBA journeyman Eduardo Najera, who averaged 4.9 points in 12 seasons, is the only native Mexican to ever be drafted. America’s neighbor to the north, Canada, has produced notable current NBA players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray and RJ Barrett and Hall of Famer Steve Nash, among others.

Mexico is expected to change the narrative with the projected arrival of Lopez in 2026. Until then, the Sinaloa native will be playing two seasons professionally in Australia and New Zealand in the National Basketball League for the New Zealand Breakers as part of the NBL Next Stars program.

“Karim Lopez is not just breaking barriers as the next Mexican-born player in the NBA, he’s redefining greatness with every step he takes on the court,” Najera told Andscape. “The future of Mexican basketball shines bright with his talent and determination leading the way.”

Lopez was born into a basketball household in Hermosillo, Sonora in Mexico on April 12, 2007, thanks to his father and Mexican basketball star center Jesus Hiram Lopez.

Jesus Hiram Lopez says he fell in love with basketball the first time he walked into a gym as a young child to watch his older brother at a basketball clinic. Jesus Hiram Lopez played in the United States for Division II Southwest Baptist University (Missouri) after attending junior college in Arizona. The 6-9 center played professionally in Mexico from 2011-18 for Toros De Nuevo Laredo, Pioneros and Garzas Guerreras de Tlaxcala, according to ProBallers.com. He was also on several Mexican national teams.

“I’ve had some up and downs, but I can say basketball just gave me everything,” Jesus Hiram Lopez told Andscape in a call via the Zoom platform. “It gave me the chance to do the thing I loved, gave me the chance to provide for my family. And it gave me the chance to actually have Karim going around with me to places — to shootarounds, to practices — and getting to know the world. So, I’m really thankful for the stuff that basketball and God has given us.”

Karim Lopez said he can’t recall how young he was when he fell in love with basketball but that it happened naturally.

Lopez enjoyed going to his father’s games and practices as a child. He also loved watching NBA games, particularly games involving LeBron James, his favorite player. Lopez grew up playing for his school and basketball academies. He chose basketball over being a goalkeeper in soccer after his mother told him to choose because she was overwhelmed taking him to practices and games. At age12, Lopez played against kids ages 15 to 17 and held his own. He believed he had a chance to be special after his dad showed confidence in him.

“When I was 11, he told me randomly one day, ‘When you’re 12, we’re going to take the training seriously. We’re going to start working out for real,’ ” Lopez said. “And I feel like that might’ve been the point where he was like, ‘OK, you got some potential …’

“I always believed in myself. It’s always been my dream to be an NBA player. Ever since I was a very young kid, I just thought I should really pursue my dreams and really work hard. I can really be a good basketball player. I still have a really long way to go, but I’m just working hard every day.”

“When he started putting in the time on his own to work on his game, that is when I knew he really loved it and that he would be special,” Jesus Hiram Lopez said.

At 13, Lopez was dunking, playing up in age and was starting to get press in Mexico. After being discovered by a scout for Spanish pro teams, he was offered the opportunity to play professionally in Spain at 14 years old for Joventut Badalona. Joventut Badalona has produced former NBA players Ricky Rubio, Raul Lopez and Rudy Fernandez. Lopez played for Joventut Badolona’s junior team during the 2022-23 season before being promoted to the senior team in 2024.

While understanding that his knowledge of Spanish was a plus, Lopez was on his own having left at age 14, leaving his family and friends behind. He was, however, motivated by his dad having done something similar by leaving Mexico to play college basketball in the United States.

“It was definitely hard. It was definitely a tough moment,” Lopez said. “But since I was very young, I always had this dream. Because he went to college in America, my dad told me that there are a lot of sacrifices that go into pursuing your dreams. I feel like I was a little prepared for it because I was thinking I was doing this for a reason. So, I feel like that helped me a lot.”

Lopez spent two successful seasons playing for Club Joventut “B.” He also averaged 10.6 minutes in seven games for CB Prat in the third basketball division of the Spanish league last season.

“I learned a lot, not just as a basketball player, but as a person,” Lopez said. “Just being away from my family for the first time, just learning how to be more independent, carry myself by myself. It was a great experience. It’s a different game, so that helped me in a lot of different ways, and I don’t regret it at all.”

Lopez attracted interest from American colleges, but he wouldn’t have been eligible to play until the 2025-26 season. He also said that he considered the G League Ignite before the NBA closed the program after last season. Lopez ultimately decided that joining the NBL Next Stars program was the best option and signed with the Breakers.

The Next Stars program is a pathway for prospects to gain experience before becoming NBA draft-eligible. Next Stars has produced NBA players such as Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, Chicago Bulls forward Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng, Washington Wizards rookie forward Alex Sarr, Milwaukee Bucks rookie guard A.J. Johnson and Detroit Pistons rookie forward Bobi Klintman. Lopez talked to Klintman before deciding on the Next Stars program.

“I feel like it’s been a proven pathway the last couple of years …,” said Lopez of joining the NBL Next Stars program. “I feel like it’s a place that really fits me. And also, the New Zealand Breakers just did a great job improving me, and I feel like they really believed in me.

“[Klintman] told me it was a really good league that prepares you good for the NBA. And also, it is a fast-paced league. It’s obviously not the NBA, but it kind of emulates the fast pace of the NBA.”

While Lopez is is the most heralded of the five newcomers in the Next Stars program. Despite playing against grown men, he is already off a solid start, averaging 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in six games.

“I saw him a couple games on TV, but we play them at the end of the month,” NBL Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum, the father of Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, said. “Karim is going to be really good. He’s only 17 years old out here competing against 10-year vets. He’s very skilled for his age and height. He’s making an instant impact for his team this season.”

The Breakers played three exhibition games in the United States against the 76ers, Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder in October. Lopez impressed many with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 25 minutes for the Breakers during a 116-87 exhibition loss to the Jazz on Nov. 14. He missed the other two games due to a wrist injury.

Playing well on an NBA court for the first time was quite meaningful for Lopez.

“I just saw the arena as our bus pulled up and was like, ‘Wow, I’m really here,’ ” Lopez said. “I’m not there yet. But it was something. I can say I played against an NBA team. It was definitely a blessing. It was definitely a dream come true.

“I had a solid game. I was like, ‘Wow, I can compete against these guys. I can really make an impact.’ It just made me realize I got to keep working so I can get there.”

His mother and younger sister remain in Mexico, and Lopez’s father is with him in Australia. Jesus Hiram Lopez is loving every second of watching his son become a future NBA player and strengthening their bond.

“My wife and I thought that I need to be here to support in every step of the way,” Jesus Hiram Lopez said. “There are lot of things that get in the way. He’s in a house by himself having to find food to eat, having to cook if he needs to and going to practice. We need to do this for him. And putting things on the side, it’s difficult. I had to put everything on hold back home.

“But as a parent, that is something that every dad would do. You want your kids to be good, to be successful and to be in a good position. And if I’m honest with you, I’m really enjoying the time.”

Lopez has shined in a Mexico uniform since debuting in February.

Lopez was a bright spot for Mexico in a blowout loss to the United States in a FIBA U16 Americas 2023 contest, scoring 23 points. He also has already played for the Mexico senior national team this year, playing in the FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico and the FIBA AmeriCup qualifiers. Lopez is also dreaming of Mexico playing in the 2028 Los Angeles Games in men’s basketball.

“It’s definitely a blessing for me to represent Mexico,” Lopez said. “I take that with much pride. Everywhere I go, people are like, ‘That’s the Mexican kid, right?’ I just try to carry the flag with me. When I step on the court playing for Mexico, that’s definitely a different feeling. You play with a different type of pride. If you’re representing your country, it’s definitely great.”

While there are currently no Mexican natives amongst the 30 NBA teams, interest in the league and basketball has risen in Mexico.

The NBA typically has one regular-season game in Mexico City. This season it was the Miami Heat against the Washington Wizards on Nov. 2. The first NBA game in Mexico was in 1992 and the league has an office in Mexico City. The Mexico City Capitanes have also been playing in the NBA G League since 2021. There are 32 million NBA fans in Mexico and basketball is the second-most played sport in the country, according to Sportico. The NBA is considering Mexico City as one of its potential expansion sites.

“I feel like basketball in Mexico is growing, especially in the last couple of years,” Lopez said. “When I was a kid, it was not really big. I was just playing at my school with other kids my age. But I feel like people that actually play it are very passionate about it.”

Lopez is very familiar with the lean history of Mexicans in the NBA.

There are Americans with Mexican descent who have had success in the NBA: Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., Mexico City Capitanes forward and 2022 NBA champion Juan Toscano-Anderson, former NBA forward Mark Aguirre and former guard Jorge Gutierrez. But no native Mexican has been drafted in the first round, won an NBA title or has been an All-Star.

Najera was selected in the second round (38th overall) by the Houston Rockets in the 2000 NBA draft.

“Eduardo Najera was definitely one of the pioneers. I know there’s been a couple of guys in the NBA, not much yet,” Lopez said. “I feel like it will change over the coming years. It’s growing sport in Mexico, basketball. And we definitely got some potential to be really a powerhouse in the future. I don’t know when, but I feel like it will come.”

“There are only few countries that produce basketball players on the consistent basis. France, Serbia, Spain, Canada. We’re working on it and it’s, it’s not easy. There are only 450 players in the NBA. We want to see more Latin and Mexican players hopefully in the future,” Jesus Hiram Lopez said.

Change for Mexico is expected to come in 2026 with Lopez’s projected arrival to the NBA. American A.J. Dybantsa is widely considered the top prospect for the 2026 NBA draft. Lopez, however, is also expected to be a potential lottery pick in that draft.

When Lopez is drafted into the NBA, Najera and Mexico will be beaming with pride.

“It has definitely always been my dream since I can remember,” Lopez said of being drafted in the NBA. “And that would mean everything for me, for my family, just because of all the work I’ve put in. I don’t know how Mexican fans would feel about it. I feel like they would love it, right? But for me, it would definitely be great.”