Karim López aims high after historic NBA arrival: “I’m not even at 5% of my potential”

Karim López has officially become the seventh Mexican player to reach the NBA, and his path is already rewriting national basketball history. Selected 21st overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Sonora‑born guard is the first Mexican ever taken in the first round and only the second Mexican‑born player drafted — the first since Eduardo Nájera.

At just 19 years old, López was the youngest player to ever suit up for Mexico’s national team, logging minutes against the Dominican Republic during the February 2024 FIBA window. Despite the hype, he insists he’s nowhere near his ceiling.

“I worry about what I can control. You have to show up every day to work and get better. I’m focused on improving everything — my body, my athleticism, my sh ooting, my handle. Everything. I’m not even close to 5% of my potential,” López said during a video press conference. “I’m extremely ambitious. My expectations for myself are very high. I want to be a great player — someone who helps teams win.”

A young star with something to prove

López spent two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s NBL, where he developed into one of the league’s most intriguing prospects. Still, he admits he was frustrated not to crack the top 10 of the draft.

“This is just the beginning. It’s not like I got here and can relax. I don’t want to be mediocre — I want to be great. I want to be a player with immediate impact and long‑term impact. The only way to do that is by working.”

He’s already training under new Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo, gearing up for the NBA Summer League, which tips off Thursday, July 9 in Las Vegas.

Horacio Llamas: the mentor paving the way

López’s rise has come with guidance from a familiar figure: Horacio Llamas, the first Mexican to ever play in the NBA. Llamas has been close to the López family for years and remains one of Karim’s most trusted mentors.

“Horacio is a close friend. I’ve had a lot of contact with him. He played with my dad. He’s the main person I stay in touch with.”

With elite ambition, a historic draft moment behind him, and a support system rooted in Mexican basketball royalty, Karim López enters the NBA with a clear mission: to prove he belongs among the league’s best.

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