NBA experts back Lopez as Lottery pick

With just one week until the 2026 NBA Draft, many experts continue to project NBL Next Star Karim Lopez to be selected inside the lottery.

In Yahoo Sports’ latest mock draft by Kevin O’Connor, who recently spoke with Lopez on his podcast, the New Zealand Breakers forward is slated to be selected with the 9th pick, going to the Dallas Mavericks.

ESPN’s Jeremy Woo has the Mexican forward projected to go at pick 14 to Charlotte.

“Lopez has interest all over the back half of the lottery, offering developmental upside based on his size and room to improve his skill level at both forward spots,” Woo said via ESPN.

“The Hornets need help at both the four and five positions, and he could come into play here, as well as a group of bigs including Hannes Steinbach, Morez Johnson and Chris Cenac Jr.”

On NBA.com’s consensus mock draft, the 19-year-old is placed in the 13th spot, reaffirming that most experts believe he will be picked inside the lottery (ie. top 14).

Lopez, who averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game across the 2025-26 Hungry Jack’s NBL season while shooting 49 per cent from the field, was among the 14 players who received invitations to the draft’s Green Room last week, with six more players receiving invitations this week. 

After helping the Breakers win the first-ever Ignite Cup Final, Lopez has drawn comparisons to a Hall of Famer, with ESPN’s Marc J. Spears last month saying that he has “Scottie Pippen kind of things to him".

The Next Stars program has seen six players drafted in the first round across the last six NBA drafts, including LaMelo Ball (2020), Josh Giddey (2021), Ousmane Dieng (2022) and Alex Sarr (2024), all being selected inside the lottery.