Memphis Grizzlies rookie Karim López has chosen No. 35 for his NBA jersey after previously wearing No. 21 with Joventut Badalona and No. 1 with the New Zealand Breakers. The 21st overall pick selected the number because both of his prior choices were already taken on the Grizzlies roster. López becomes the sixth player in franchise history to wear No. 35 and the first since Christian Koloko had it last season.
What jersey number will Karim López wear with the Memphis Grizzlies?
López will wear No. 35 for the Memphis Grizzlies, marking a fresh start in his professional career. He wore No. 21 for two years in Spain with Joventut Badalona and during FIBA AmeriCup 2025 qualifiers with Mexico. After moving to the NBL, he switched to No. 1 for two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers before entering the draft. The number change reflects roster constraints and personal readiness for the NBA stage.
How did Karim López perform before joining the Memphis Grizzlies?
In his final season with the New Zealand Breakers, López averaged 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals and one block per game while shooting 49.4% from the field over 30 appearances. He made history as the first Mexican-born player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. His summer league debut was limited to 11 minutes due to a hamstring strain, where he recorded four rebounds, two blocks, one steal and a plus-12 rating without scoring.
Why does the jersey number matter for Karim López and the Memphis Grizzlies?
Choosing No. 35 allows López to establish his identity within a young core that includes Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, Taylor Hendricks, Cedric Coward and fellow rookies Cameron Boozer and Richie Saunders. The number connects him to franchise history while avoiding duplication with existing players. It also signals his readiness to contribute despite early injury setbacks, as the Grizzlies continue developing their post-draft roster.
What comes next for Karim López with the Memphis Grizzlies?
López will aim to earn rotation minutes as he recovers fully from his hamstring issue and adapts to the NBA pace. The Grizzlies, coming off a 132-101 loss to the Houston Rockets on April 13, 2026, are in the midst of a five-game losing streak (0-5 in their last five). His development will be monitored closely as Memphis looks to build around its young talent, with fans able to track progress via the [squad](/squad) and [stats](/stats) pages as the season approaches.
