With the No. 21 pick in the NBA Draft, Karim López, born in Hermosillo in the Mexican state of Sonora, became the first Mexican-born first-round pick in league history.The gravity of the moment was not lost on López or his family, as he briefly teared up while being interviewed after the pick.“It’s just super special,” López, 19, said, choking back tears. “I’m blessed. I mean, I have no words.”López brought his history in his suit jacket, which he showcased during the interview. A custom design inside the jacket featured Mexico’s tricolor flag alongside other images symbolizing his Mexican heritage.“Yeah, I just wanted to represent my culture, represent where I’m from, represent my faith, and just represent myself, basically,” López said. “Show who I am.”The Memphis Grizzlies traded with the Detroit Pistons for López, who left home in Mexico at 14 for Joventut Badalona’s youth academy in Spain. He grew his game there before making the move to the New Zealand Breakers, where he spent the last two seasons in the National Basketball League. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 2025-26 while playing against grown men in Australia’s top professional league.“We always knew it,” his dad, Jesús Hiram López, said. “… I know how hard he works, and I knew he was special from day one.”