Next Star shines at NBA Draft Combine

The path to the NBA continues to get closer by the day for NBL Next Stars sensation Karim Lopez.

The highly-touted Mexican talent, who spent two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers, is this week taking part in the 2026 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

During the testing, the 19-year-old measured at 6'8.25 barefoot and 222 pounds, with a 6'11.5 wingspan and 8'9.5 standing reach.

He also recorded a 38' inch vertical jump, 2.88 seconds shuttle run and 11.14 seconds pro lane run.

These measurements saw NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony say Lopez has “ample height/length to play either forward spot in the NBA”.

Lopez, who helped the Breakers win the first-ever Ignite Cup Final during the Hungry Jack’s NBL26 Season, averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks this campaign, while shooting 49 per cent from the field and committing just 1.5 turnovers per game.

In the latest mock draft by ESPN, following Monday AEST’s Draft Lottery, Lopez, who declared for the Draft in March, is slated to go at pick 11 to the Golden State Warriors.

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.