The Next Star program has continued to prove itself as a leading pathway for young professionals looking to make the leap into the NBA, with Karim Lopez poised to be the latest name added to the list.

The 19-year-old has consistently landed in the lottery pick range on mock drafts, as he looks to become the first Mexican-born player taken in the first round of the NBA Draft.

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was the first Next Star taken in the lottery, selected at pick three after winning Rookie of the Year with the Illawarra Hawks.

His rapid rise was highlighted by an incredible 32-point, 11-rebound, 13-assist triple-double in an overtime win over Cairns, making him the youngest player to record a triple-double in league history. He backed it up with another in the very next game.

Ball held the same NBA record the following year before Australia’s Josh Giddey surpassed it with 17 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists against the Dallas Mavericks at just 19 years old.

Giddey had been floating around the late second round of mock drafts when he signed with the Adelaide 36ers, before rising to pick six in the 2021 NBA Draft with Oklahoma City.

> READ MORE: HOW THE NBL PREPARED KARIM LOPEZ FOR THE NBA

The most recent top pick from the program was Alex Sarr in 2024, taken at pick two by the Washington Wizards after a strong year with the Perth Wildcats.

After some adjustment in his rookie season, the French big man produced an outstanding sophomore campaign and established himself as one of the premier defensive bigs in the league.

Lopez is set to join that elite company following two seasons with New Zealand, where he quickly became an integral piece of the Breakers’ program as a teenager.

He put the exclamation mark on his NBL season in Round 19, leading an undermanned New Zealand side to an unlikely win over Melbourne United.

He finished with 32 points and eight rebounds, including 14 in the final quarter, in a two-point victory.

While first-round picks secure guaranteed NBA contracts, several Next Stars selected in the second round have quickly earned the same security.

Ariel Hukporti, who just won an NBA championship with New York, was taken with pick 58 in the 2024 Draft. After his rights were traded to the Knicks, he signed a two-way contract before earning a standard NBA deal as part of the eventual championship run.

The 2024 Draft was a strong one for the program overall, with AJ Johnson (pick 23) and Bobi Klintman (pick 37) also selected.

Next Stars drafted to the NBA

Didi Louzada - Pick 35, 2019 (Atlanta Hawks, traded to New Orleans) - then played for Sydney Kings
LaMelo Ball - Pick 3, 2020 (Charlotte Hornets) - via Illawarra Hawks
RJ Hampton - Pick 24, 2020 (Milwaukee Bucks, traded to Denver) - via New Zealand Breakers
Justinian Jessup - Pick 51, 2020 (Golden State Warriors) - then played for Illawarra Hawks
Josh Giddey - Pick 6, 2021 (Oklahoma City Thunder) - via Adelaide 36ers
Ousmane Dieng - Pick 11, 2022 (New York Knicks, traded to OKC) - via New Zealand Breakers
Mojave King - Pick 47, 2023 (LA Lakers, traded to Indiana) - via Cairns Taipans, Adelaide 36ers and G League Ignite
Rayan Rupert - Pick 43, 2023 (Portland Trail Blazers) - via New Zealand Breakers
Alex Sarr - Pick 2, 2024 (Washington Wizards) - via Perth Wildcats
AJ Johnson - Pick 23, 2024 (Milwaukee Bucks) - via Illawarra Hawks
Bobi Klintman - Pick 37, 2024 - via Cairns Taipans
Ariel Hukporti - Pick 58, 2024 (New York Knicks) - via Melbourne United
Rocco Zikarsky - Pick 45, 2025 (Minnesota Timberwolves) - via Brisbane Bullets
Alex Toohey - Pick 52, 2025 (Phoenix Suns, traded to Golden State) - via Sydney Kings