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Australia’s relationship with the NBA has been a passionate and long-standing one, and its own domestic league, the NBL, has an enormous following. The NBL has contributed to the NBA Draft across the decades, but ever since LaMelo Ball plied his trade as an emerging guard with the Illawarra Hawks as part of the 2020 NBA Draft class, there has been an increase in not only prospects who have attempted to replicate a similar path but young players who have emerged within the NBL.
Draft selections from the NBL in recent years include Ball, Alex Sarr, Rayan Rupert, Bobi Klintman, and AJ Johnson to name a few prospects in the last few years. Varying levels of talent and NBA-sticking power in that small collection of names, but what is certain is that the NBL has been more recently solidified as an absolutely viable entry route for the NBA.
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19-year-old Mexican forward Karim Lopez will be the latest NBL prospect hoping to hear his name called on NBA Draft Day. A 6-foot-9 forward for the New Zealand Breakers, Lopez averaged 11.9 points per game on 49.4% shooting on 8.9 field goal attempts, 32% from three in three attempts per game, 73.9% from the line on 2.9 free throw attempts, six rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and one block in an average of 25 minutes per game in 30 games played, per RealGM.
Considering that Lopez just turned 19 in April (his last game of the season taking place in February, meaning he did all that we’re about to see in a professional league at 18 years old), these are productive numbers from Lopez. Let’s take a look at the film and see what’s what with Karim Lopez, who wears the number one.
Offense/scoring
Lopez’s best work offensively comes on the move, on drives, in the paint. He’s very efficient there, and considering he shoots 49% from the field despite shooting 32% from three suggests that he is more efficient than his percentage indicates. I think the most impressive aspect of Lopez’s offensive game is his poise; many players at this age play with one speed, often too quick than they are capable of.
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Lopez plays a little slower, but he also plays as if the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/2026-nba-draft-scouting-report-110000935.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-08 11:00:00
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