Francis Lopez Scouting Report: Can the Filipino Wing They Call “Lebron” Reach the NBA?
Francis Lopez was supposed to be the next Filipino in the American pipeline. He signed with Overtime Elite at 18 and never played a game there, because he could not get a US visa. Five years later he is a UAAP champion and a professional in Japan. This report covers who he is, how his first B.League season went, and whether the NBA is still realistic.
Francis Lopez at a glance
| Full name | Francis Leo S. Lopez |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Lebron |
| Born | 2003 |
| Nationality | Filipino, of Filipino and Angolan descent |
| Position | Wing |
| Height | Listed 6’4″ (Wikipedia) or 6’6″ (RealGM, Spin.ph); our video uses 6’5″ |
| Weight | 170 lb |
| Last club | Fighting Eagles Nagoya (Japan B.League), 2025-26 |
| 2025-26 stats | 7.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 50.3% FG in 60 games |
| NBA draft | Undrafted, 2022 |
| Database status | Not listed (under 7 feet) |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Who Is Francis Lopez?
Lopez is a Filipino-Angolan wing born in 2003. He made his name with the Ateneo juniors, where he averaged 16.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.0 blocks and made the Mythical Team. The blocks are the number to notice. A wing who protects the rim like a center is rare at any level.
He joined the senior national team, Gilas Pilipinas, in 2021 while still a teenager. At the 2022 Southeast Asian Games he won silver and scored 17 points against Cambodia on his 19th birthday. He also played at the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup.
The Overtime Elite Deal That Never Happened
On July 13, 2021, Lopez signed with Overtime Elite, the American league built to pay elite teenagers. It looked like the fast lane to the draft. Instead his US visa application was rejected, more than once, and he never played a game for the league. He went undrafted in 2022.
That lost year matters for everything that follows. NBA scouts never saw him against American competition at the age when it counts most.
UP: Rookie of the Year, Then a Title
Lopez enrolled at the University of the Philippines. He was UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year on a team that lost the finals, then came back and won the Season 87 championship over La Salle. In the deciding Game 3 he had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists. His season averages were 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds.
On April 28, 2025, he left UP to turn professional in Japan.
First Season in Japan
Lopez signed with Fighting Eagles Nagoya in the B.League. His 2025-26 line: 60 games, 18.3 minutes, 7.3 points and 3.8 rebounds, shooting 50.3% from the field, 26.8% from three and 67.8% at the line. His best night was 27 points against Utsunomiya on November 2, 2025.
He spoke about the adjustment in an interview with The Game. In August 2026 he was Finals MVP of an Asiabasket tournament, with 22 points and 7 rebounds in a 92-91 win over UST in the final. He has said he is waiting for a Gilas call-up. We could not confirm his 2026-27 contract.
Scouting Report: Strengths and Weaknesses
What he does well
- Athleticism. He plays above the rim on both ends, which is unusual for a wing in Asian basketball.
- Shot blocking from the wing. Three blocks a game as a junior is a real skill, not a highlight habit.
- Finishing. He made half his shots as a B.League rookie.
- Big-game record. A near triple-double in a title-deciding game and a Finals MVP in 2026.
What holds him back
- Three-point shooting. 26.8% is not enough for an NBA wing. This is the main issue.
- Free throws. 67.8% suggests the jump shot is still a work in progress.
- Size. At 6’4″ to 6’6″ and 170 pounds he is light for a forward and would have to guard bigger players.
- Role. 18 minutes a game in Japan is a rotation role, not a starring one.
Can Francis Lopez Still Make the NBA?
It is a long shot. He is 23, he has already gone undrafted, and his numbers in Japan are those of a useful role player. Our video quotes a two-point percentage above 55; we could not verify that figure, so we use the overall 50.3% here.
The realistic route is the one most international wings take: become a reliable three-point shooter, put up a big season in Asia, and earn a Summer League invitation. The athletic tools are NBA level. The shot decides the rest.
For another Filipino player on the same road, read our Kai Sotto scouting report.
Why Francis Lopez is not in our database
The database only lists players who stand 7’0″ or taller. Lopez is a wing, so he is outside it. If you follow Philippine basketball, the database does include Kai Sotto and every other active 7-footer we could find, sorted by height and filterable by country.
Sources: Wikipedia, RealGM, Spin.ph, The Game and Newswav. Last checked 9 October 2026.