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Karim Lopez became the first Mexican-born player to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft when he was selected by the Detroit Pistons with the No. 21 pick. With that history, the story is about more than basketball.
Which is not to say basketball is irrelevant. He is 6-8, played in the NBL Next Stars program in Australia, and has the skills that have attracted the interest of the Golden State Warriors. And Latinos in the Bay Area.
“We would love to have a Latino player from whichever nationality it is to come and represent with the Warriors because as you know right now in the country there is a very bad narrative surrounding the Latino community,” said Susana Rojas, executive director of the Calle 24 in San Francisco, referring to the Trump administration’s immigration policy. “We want to showcase the talents that we have.
“And so when we bring our artists, when we bring players, when we bring people talent that is from Latin America, it only elevates and cements the true nature of our culture and not the stereotypes that are represented in the media.”
Lopez, 19, was born in Hermosillo, Mexico and he comes by his talent naturally. He is the son of Jesús Hiram López, a former professional basketball player who played for Mexico’s national team.
Love for the Warriors
Finding Latino culture figures to be easy.
According to the 2000 Census, there were almost 1.9 million Hispanic or Latinos living in the Bay Area.
“All love the Warriors here,” Rojas told USA TODAY Sports. “I actually was just at the Chase Center last night. We went to watch the Valkyries.”
Rojas was referring to the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA team which, along with the Golden State Warriors, call the Chase Center home.
“I think more than being fans of a specific sport, it is more about being fans of the city and supporting our local sports, our local legions, our local players to be the best that they can be in the country,” Rojas said of the Latino community. “And obviously we wanted to bring the World Series, the basketball – I don’t even know what the championship is – the Super Bowl, all of it.”
Lopez would not be the first Latino to suit up with the Warriors. Juan Toscano-Anderson, who is Mexican-American, played for the team from 2019 to 2023.
A sense of responsibility
Lopez told Sports Illustrated he grew up playing basketball in driveways, in parks and in blistering heat. Now he’s hoping to inspire others – and not just aspiring NBA players.
“I want to show people that come from the same situation I come from that it’s possible,” Lopez told Sports Illustrated. “That there’s someone that’s just like them, had the same struggles, and (still made) it. That’s what really motivates me.”
Until now, Eduardo Nájera is the only other Mexican-born player picked in the NBA draft. The Houston Rockets selected him in the second round and No. 38 overall in the 2000 NBA Draft.
Nájera, who played 12 seasons in the NBA as a reserve forward, has taken a special interest in López’s rise.
“Karim López is not just breaking barriers as the next Mexican-born player in the NBA, he’s redefining greatness with every step he takes on the court,” Nájera told Andscape. “The future of Mexican basketball shines bright with his talent and determination leading the way.”
Passion for the game
Before the NBA scouts discovered Lopez, basketball executives in Mexico took notice of Lopez’s development. One of those men was Orlando Méndez-Valdez, general manager for the NBA G League’s Mexico City Capitanes.
“I think he just continued to get more responsibility, more confidence,” Mendez-Valdez said. “He just continued to demonstrate the talent that he is. He was able to adjust to the physicality.
“Obviously, he’s a high IQ player, knows his limitations and his strengths. He knows areas to improve with outside 3-point shooting is a concern. I would say with most scouts … him being so young and playing with the senior national team each window, you can see him progressing, either being more aggressive with the ball, open court, being able to be three-dimensional, being able to have the high IQ passing ability, short roll situations, punishing closeouts. It was just nice to see him play at that level.”
As for where he will play, Mendez-Valdez said before the draft: “I think wherever he lands, it’s going to be good overall for a team market or where he goes. I mean, you have an entire country rooting for this kid and behind him.”
