NBA Draft hype growing around Karim Lopez

Karim Lopez sits inside the Lottery in the latest Consensus Mock Draft released by NBA.com.

On the eve of the NBA Draft, Lopez is rated as high as pick No. 9 by Yahoo Sports, while USA Today and Bleacher Report project him at No. 11 and ESPN has him at No. 14 among a stacked group of prospects.

The Mexican forward is among the highest-rated international prospects in the class, alongside Germany's Hannes Steinbach, following two seasons in the NBL with the New Zealand Breakers.

Lopez would become the 12th NBL Next Star drafted directly to the NBA should he hear his name called on Wednesday morning, Australian time.

South East Melbourne Phoenix young gun Malique Lewis is also in the mix to be selected, having worked out with several NBA teams in recent days.

Read the full story here >> Consensus Mock Draft: Where things stand the day before 2026 NBA Draft