Karim López saw his most action of the Memphis preseason in Friday, October 9’s 104–100 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Mexican played approximately 14 minutes, scored four points and grabbed six rebounds at the United Center.
López increased both his playing time and his production compared with his first two preseason games. For the native of Sonora, the longer opportunity came with a presence on the boards, in addition to his two baskets.
Six rebounds and two baskets on three attempts
The forward made two of his three field-goal attempts and missed the only three-pointer he tried. All six of his rebounds were defensive. He finished without assists, steals or blocks, with one turnover and a plus-ten differential during his time on the court.
That plus-ten describes Memphis’s team point differential while López was playing; it does not mean he scored ten points or, by itself, explain the win. It is a stat that accompanies his four-point, six-rebound line, not a substitute for it.
The rebounds provide a concrete sign of involvement even when offensive volume is low. López took three shots, but finished several defensive possessions with a rebound. The sample remains small and comes from preseason games, with teams still testing their rotations.
How his preseason got started
On October 5, he played in the 132–123 win over Atlanta, recording two points, one rebound, two steals and one block in less than eight minutes. Two days later, against Orlando, he played just over six minutes without scoring and had one assist in the 122–118 loss.
Against Chicago, his playing time grew to about 14 minutes. The comparison shows the change without exaggerating it: he had a longer opportunity and responded with his highest point and rebound totals in those three games. That does not automatically turn his preseason role into a fixed spot in the regular rotation.
López is 19 years old and was born in Hermosillo. He came to the NBA after his time with the New Zealand Breakers and was selected 21st in the 2026 draft before joining Memphis.
Upcoming dates to watch
The Grizzlies’ schedule has their final preseason game on Friday, October 16, against the Charlotte Hornets at FedExForum. The regular season is scheduled to open on Wednesday the 21st, also at home, against the Utah Jazz.
The two games have different significance for official statistics: preseason numbers do not carry over to the regular-season record. For those following the Mexican player, the immediate question is whether he continues to get playing opportunities and how he contributes when the competition moves from tune-ups to games that count in the standings.
