The Detroit Pistons selected Karim Lopez with the No. 21 pick on Tuesday night, then immediately traded his draft rights to the Memphis Grizzlies. Lopez becomes the first player born in Mexico to hear his name called in the first round, breaking new ground for international basketball in his home country.

A 6-foot-8 forward who spent the last two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL, Lopez averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field in 25.6 minutes per game. The 19-year-old was born in Hermosillo before moving to Spain at 14 to join Joventut Badalona, eventually signing with the Breakers in 2024.

Eduardo Najera had been the only Mexican-born NBA draftee, selected 38th overall by Houston in 2000 before being traded to Dallas. Lopez acknowledged Najera as a pioneer and expressed his desire to grow basketball in Mexico, telling ESPN in March that he wants to show young people 'it doesn't matter where you're from.'

At the NBA combine in May, Lopez measured a 38-inch vertical leap with a nearly 7-foot wingspan and 8-foot-10 standing reach. His combination of size, shooting efficiency and international experience gives Memphis another young piece to develop alongside their core.