Why Karim López looms as Mexico's first NBA star

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HERMOSILLO, Mexico -- Less than a block away from the city center, on the concrete court he practiced on as a child, NBA draft prospect and New Zealand Breakers star forward Karim López is bouncing a ball for the cameras. A woman passing by notices the scene and approaches him immediately after she's sure the cameras have stopped rolling:

"You're him, aren't you?"

New Zealand Breakers forward Karim López, a native of Hermosillo, Sonora, is on track to become the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft. Photo by Phil Walter/Getty ImagesLópez stops and smiles. The woman puts her hand up to her mouth. "You're that basketball player, you're…