NBA Comparison: Deni Avdija / Zaccharie Risacher

Strengths: Lopez is one of the more intriguing international prospects in the 2026 class, offering an appealing blend of size, athleticism, and versatility that fits the modern NBA game … At 6’9” with a strong frame and nearly a 7-foot wingspan, he possesses solid physical tools for a wing-forward, projecting primarily as a small forward with the ability to slide to the four in certain lineups … Smooth and athletic mover who shows real ability to finish above the rim and impact the game in transition … Aggressive attacking the rim off the dribble, showing comfort getting downhill and putting pressure on defenses with long strides, body control, and functional athleticism … Comfortable handling the ball and creating offense, particularly for a player with his size … Displays solid isolation ability and flashes upside attacking closeouts and creating shots in isolation and face-up situations … Particularly intriguing in smaller lineups, where he can exploit slower defenders and create mismatches as a small-ball four … Good passer who consistently looks to involve teammates and keeps the ball moving within the flow of the offense … Shows encouraging vision finding teammates on drive-and-dish opportunities and is particularly effective feeding lob threats around the basket … Solid on the offensive glass, using his activity level, instincts, and athleticism to generate second-chance opportunities … Possesses good hands, helping him secure difficult passes, catch in traffic, and finish plays around the basket … Offensive game appears more advanced than expected entering the season, showing improved confidence and comfort creating for himself and others … Those numbers are fairly encouraging for a 19-year-old playing professionally and suggest room for continued development as a perimeter shooter, though they would likely be viewed more negatively if not for his age, physical profile, and long-term upside … Defensively, Lopez offers intriguing upside due to his length and anticipation … While lateral quickness is not a major strength, he has shown some ability to stay in front of opposing wings and contain drives when fully engaged … Uses his length effectively to contest shots, disrupt passing lanes, and make plays away from the ball … Averaged 1.2 steals per game, reflecting active hands and solid instincts jumping passing lanes … Has the physical profile to guard multiple positions and enough mobility to become a versatile defender at the next level … Measured well at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, reinforcing the athletic tools visible on tape with a 38-inch max vertical and strong overall testing numbers …

Weaknesses: Despite the upside, Lopez still remains somewhat unproven compared to many prospects projected in his draft range … Offensive consistency remains one of the bigger concerns, as he can be a streaky scorer and occasionally disappear for stretches … While his shooting indicators are encouraging, he is not yet a true knockdown perimeter threat and can still be inconsistent with rhythm and shot selection … Competitiveness has drawn criticism from some evaluators, with questions surrounding his toughness, motor, and ability to consistently impose himself despite possessing strong physical tools … Needs to become more assertive against physical defenders and avoid settling offensively when he has advantages … First-step burst and overall foot speed raise some concerns, particularly when attempting to create separation against quicker defenders or recover defensively in space … Lateral quickness is solid but not elite, which could limit some of his defensive versatility against faster perimeter players at the NBA level … While Lopez has shown flashes as a passer, he has never consistently been viewed as a true playmaker off the dribble, making this a major swing skill that will likely determine how impactful of an offensive player he ultimately becomes … If he develops into someone capable of consistently creating advantages and making reads for others, his offensive ceiling rises considerably … Shooting ability is better than advertised, but in need of improvement, converting 32.6% from three while shooting 74% from the free throw line … His performance at the 2025 adidas Eurocamp raised some questions, as he struggled at times to separate himself in a setting filled with NBA scouts and did not leave the type of impression some evaluators hoped for from a projected mid first-round talent … Defensive consistency remains a work in progress, as he does not always maximize his tools or maintain the same level of focus possession to possession …

Outlook: Lopez projects as a late lottery to mid-first-round pick and is viewed as one of the elite international prospects available in the 2026 NBA Draft … A native of Mexico, Lopez came through the respected Joventut Badalona development system before joining the New Zealand Breakers … His blend of size, athleticism, offensive versatility, and defensive upside makes him one of the more appealing long-term developmental forwards in the class … Became the youngest player in NBL history to record a double-double and helped lead the Breakers to the inaugural NBL Ignite Cup Final, gaining valuable professional experience at a young age … His 2025–26 campaign, averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 50.2% from the field and 32.6% from three, strengthened his standing among NBA scouts … There are similarities to Deni Avdija and Zaccharie Risacher in terms of size, versatility, transition play, and long-term upside as multi-dimensional forwards … Feel for the game and his ability to adapt to a new situation and higher level of competition will be key variables in determining how quickly he develops and ultimately how impactful he becomes offensively … If Lopez improves his consistency, toughness, perimeter shooting, and off-the-dribble creation, he has the physical tools and skill set to become a valuable two-way NBA forward with significant upside … While the NBL has produced a few notable NBA success stories in recent years, including LaMelo Ball, Josh Giddey, and, more recently, Alex Sarr, there have also been a number of misses and slower-developing prospects to come through the pathway. Players such as AJ Johnson, Rayan Rupert, Mojave King, Ousmane Dieng, and RJ Hampton all entered the NBA through the NBL system with varying levels of hype and draft status, but have yet to establish themselves as clear long-term NBA contributors. As a result, there are still some questions surrounding the overall talent level in the league and how quickly Lopez’s game will translate to the NBA, particularly given his still-developing skill set and offensive role.

Notes: Measured 6′8.25” barefoot, 221.8 lbs, 6′11.50” wingspan, 8′9.50” standing reach, 32.0 no-step vertical, and 38.0 max vertical at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine … 2025–26 Stats: 11.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 50.2% FG, 32.6% 3PT, 74.0% FT … Born April 12, 2007 … From Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico … Developed through Spanish club Joventut Badalona before joining the New Zealand Breakers … Became the youngest player in NBL history to record a double-double … Helped lead the Breakers to the inaugural NBL Ignite Cup Final … Showed encouraging growth as a scorer and perimeter shooter during the 2025–26 season … Put up 32 points on Jan. 30 against Melbourne United, showcasing his offensive upside …

Aran Smith 6/3/26