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Steven Adams: “As of right now, yeah, just got three years, and then I’m just keeping my options open. So, obviously, all my family is in New Zealand and whatnot, and that’s where a lot of my farm is and stuff like that, so I’ve got a lot of ties back here. But then, yeah, there’s a few in America as well. So, yeah, we’ll see, bro.”
Mexican prospect Karim Lopez has declared for the 2026 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Monday. The No. 11 player on ESPN's Big Board, Lopez spent the past two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL. "It's been my dream and my goal my whole life to play in the NBA," Lopez told ESPN. "Honestly, since I can remember. I was probably like, 5 years old, making drawings of myself playing in the NBA. ... It's pretty special, you know, to be in this position right now."
Lopez, 18, averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and shot 49% from the field this season in 25.6 minutes per game. A 6-9 forward with perimeter skill, he set several marks for draft-eligible NBL Next Stars, including the single-season points record, totaling 358 in his 30 starts. He tied 2025 draftee Alex Toohey's record for total steals and blocks with 66.
Oh No He Didn't: "Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy is actually in New Zealand. While he is making a ton of calls and he is the driver of this pursuit, he's also making alternative plans. They may use this 2026 draft pick" - @anthonyVslater the Giannis to Dubs talks
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It’s possible that as soon as next summer, Nájera will no longer be the only Mexican-born player drafted in the NBA. Karim López is an 18-year-old forward from Sonora, Mexico, who is spending this season with the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League. Draft analysts have predicted that if Lopez’s strong play in the NBL continues, he could be a top-10 selection.
Olgun Uluc: Sam Mennenga will play for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025 NBA Summer League, sources told ESPN. The 6’9 stretch F/C out of New Zealand - who’s still just 23 - averaged 11.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg for the NZ Breakers in the NBL last season.
Gupta flew back to New Zealand on Jan. 13, completing a trip of about two weeks. It was a journey that took plenty of time, preparation and money. And examples like that aren't lost on OKC's players, who appreciate the lengths their fans go to. "It's amazing to see," Jaylin Williams told The Oklahoman when asked about fan support. "It's another thing that makes us want to go out there and play basketball every single night, just knowing that we have people who love watching us play."
Gupta attended four straight Thunder home games from Dec. 31-Jan. 5. He then traveled to the team's road game against New York on Jan. 10. OKC won all five games that Gupta attended. But for the longtime Thunder fan, the experiences were far more meaningful than the final scores. "When I came to Oklahoma City, they gave a whole family vibe," Gupta said. "From all the staff to seeing (Sam) Presti just walking around and talking to fans. Even the fans were so nice. ... Generally, in a long time in the world, I haven't met such nice people like that, like they were in Oklahoma."
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Justin Tatum said there are “High-level talented guys” in the NBL. Former NBA players in the NBL include Montrezl Harrell, Ian Clark, Matthew Dellavedova, Matthew Hurt, Rob Edwards, Bryce Cotton and Derrick Walton Jr. NBL alumni in the NBA include Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng and Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr. Moreover, New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez, 17, is a heralded prospect for the 2026 NBA draft. “And I’m not just talking about the former, current or want to be NBA players that are over here,” Justin Tatum said. “The Australian players are unbelievably good. It’s very physical. A lot of things you can’t get away with in the States, they let you play through here.”
Tacko Fall is so convinced that the pathway with the Auckland club is the right one, he has moved his wife and children to New Zealand to be part of the experience. “So far I’m just rehabbing – making sure I’m 100%,” Fall told a group of media at Breakers HQ this week. “They’ve been really good. The doctors have a plan for me, so these next few weeks are about training and getting back up to speed.”
The giant centre with a 2.50-metre (8ft 2in) wingspan, who played last season in China and Puerto Rico, is adamant he can get back into the NBA. “I’m a much better player now than I was a couple of years ago when I left the NBA,” he said. “It’s using this opportunity to get back in shape because you never know what can happen.”