Get to know the NBL’s newest Next Stars

They’re billed as NBA stars of the future, but this year’s class of incoming NBL Next Stars could make a big impact right here and right now.

Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers

When Rocco Zikarsky signed with the Brisbane Bullets ahead of last season, he was breaking new ground. The Next Stars program had seen its share of elite prospects, but at just 16 years of age he became the youngest player in its short history and the first to sign two years ahead of his NBA draft eligibility.

It made a world of sense for a Queensland local to stay home and develop, but now he’s also cut the path for one of the program’s newest overseas stars. Like Zikarsky, Karim Lopez has joined the NBL with the intent of playing two years and then entering the NBA draft. The 17-year-old from Hermosillo, Mexico will be a world away from home with the New Zealand Breakers, but he’s confident it’s the right next step as he looks to cement his spot as the top international prospect in the 2026 class.

“It was a tough decision between a lot of places, a lot of different programs. But I mean, I feel like that’s the best decision for me because it’s a great place,” Lopez told SB Nation. 

Where Zikarsky’s role was limited in his first year, Lopez has the chance to make a big impact from day one for the Breakers.