[From The Undefeated]

It’s a different game, so that helped me in a lot of different ways, and I don’t regret it at all.”New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez (center) with former NBA players Kenny Smith (left) and Carmelo Anthony (right).New Zealand Breakers forward Karim Lopez (left) drives to the basket against the Adelaide 36ers forward Jarell Martin (right) during a Round 7 NBL match at Spark Arena on Nov. 2 in Auckland, New Zealand.

And if I’m honest with you, I’m really enjoying the time.”Mexico forward Karim Lopez plays in the 2024 FIBA men’s Olympic qualifying tournament match between Mexico and Ivory Coast in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 4.Lopez has shined in a Mexico uniform since debuting in February.Lopez was a bright spot for Mexico in a blowout loss to the United States in a FIBA U16 Americas 2023 contest, scoring 23 points.

But I feel like people that actually play it are very passionate about it.”Lopez is very familiar with the lean history of Mexicans in the NBA.There are Americans with Mexican descent who have had success in the NBA: Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., Mexico City Capitanes forward and 2022 NBA champion Juan Toscano-Anderson, former NBA forward Mark Aguirre and former guard Jorge Gutierrez.

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