Two Next Stars tipped for NBA top 10

Two NBL Next Stars are firmly in the mix for top-10 selection in next year’s NBA Draft, according to early projections.

ESPN’s 2026 NBA Mock Draft landed on Saturday morning, Australian time, with New Zealand Breaker Karim Lopez at pick seven and Melbourne United’s Dash Daniels rounding out the top ten.

“Lopez had an outstanding season with the New Zealand Breakers as part of the NBL Next Star program, showing significant improvement with his outside shooting,” ESPN expert Jonathan Givony said.

“At six-foot-nine, he has guard skills as well as the physicality and motor needed to defend big men.

“Scouts are excited to see his potential progress in his second season in the Australian league, where he will likely be asked to step into a bigger role.”

Hailing from Mexico, Lopez made 25 appearances for the Breakers during the Hungry Jack’s NBL25 Season, averaging 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Daniels is another NBL young gun with a bright future, at just 17 years of age.

He averaged 19.2 points per game during a recent stint with Sandringham in the NBL1, and is set to represent Australia at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup, starting on Sunday.

“Daniels will likely be the youngest prospect in the 2026 draft class, turning 18 in mid-December, making it difficult to project how he will handle the rigours of the Australian NBL next season,” Givony continued.

“He brings many of the same strengths and weaknesses as his brother Dyson, but is bigger, stronger and longer at the same age, which will only help his NBA projection.

“Similar to his brother, he is an outstanding defender and a work in progress as a ball handler, shooter and scorer, but he has a strong feel for the game and plays with pace and unselfishness. He appears to be making strides with his shooting too, based on what he has shown this summer in the NBL1 league with the Sandringham Sabres.”

The pair will look to join three NBL stars - Rocco Zikarsky, Alex Toohey and Lachlan Olbrich - alongside college prospect Tyrese Proctor, who were all drafted by NBA clubs on Friday.

Perth Next Star Izan Almansa is also reported to have signed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Read the full story here >> 2026 NBA mock draft: Four players in the race for No. 1 pick