Hats off to Karim Lopez for the way he handled one of the more awkward moments of the NBA Draft.

Of course, the night is full of surprises, and not just because of who gets picked.

With draft picks changing hands throughout the night, it's become one of the event's quirkiest traditions that players often end up wearing the hat of a team they'll never actually play for.

NBL Next Star Lopez became the latest to experience the draft-night oddity.

Having walked across the stage in a Detroit Pistons cap after being selected with the 21st overall pick, Lopez only discovered his rights had previously been traded during a live ESPN interview.

“You’re going to Memphis, did you ever work out with them?” asked presenter Brian Windhorst.

“For Memphis? Wait … Memphis?” Lopez retorted.

“I thought you said he was going to Memphis?” Windhorst asked his producers, confused. “Is the first time you’ve heard this?”

“I thought I heard something about it … I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure if it was something else,” Lopez said.

“I’m pretty sure you’re going to Memphis,” the veteran sportswriter reiterated.

Once he heard the news, Lopez spun his Pistons cap around and could only laugh.

“I’ll keep it like this then,” he joked, with his hat backwards.

Lopez was one of two NBL Next Stars selected in the draft, with Malique Lewis taken with the 60th overall pick, landing at the Milwaukee Bucks.

In the process, Lopez became the 12th NBL Next Star drafted directly from the NBL to the NBA and the first Mexican-born player selected in the first round.

“It’s super special to be here,” Lopez said.

“I wanted to represent my country. Represent where I’m from. Represent my faith, and represent myself and show the people who I am.”