Memphis, Tenn. – The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team signed 2026 first round draft pick Karim López to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
López (6-8 ¼, 222) played two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers as part of the Australian NBL’s Next Stars program and averaged 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks in 24.4 minutes in 58 games (53 starts) before he was acquired by Memphis with the 21st overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Last season, the 19-year-old scored 358 points for the Breakers, the most ever by a draft-eligible player in the history of the NBL Next Stars program. In his first NBL season, he became the youngest player in league history to register a double-double by recording 13 points and 10 rebounds at the age of 17 on Oct. 27, 2024, vs. Sydney.
The Hermosillo, Mexico, native is the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft and is a member of the Mexican Senior National Team. He began his professional career in Spain with Joventut Badalona in 2023.
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