Former Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli is already making an impression in NBA Summer League, earning praise from Clippers coach Jay Larranaga, who compared his toughness and competitive mentality to former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart.
Former Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli is only a few games into his NBA career, but he has already earned high praise from the Los Angeles Clippers coaching staff.
Following the Clippers' second NBA Summer League game, Clippers assistant coach and Summer League head coach Jay Larranaga compared Martinelli's toughness and competitive mentality to former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart.
"He's very aggressive and you just feel his toughness out on the court," Larranaga said. "As a teammate, you feel good when he's around because you know you're not going to get punked."
For a rookie selected with the 55th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, it's a significant compliment.
Smart has built one of the NBA's best defensive reputations during his career, earning the league's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022 while becoming known for his relentless effort, physicality and leadership.
While Martinelli is just beginning his professional journey, the comparison speaks to the mentality and toughness he has already displayed during Summer League.
The timing of the praise made Martinelli's next performance even more encouraging.
In the Clippers' third Summer League game, Martinelli recorded the first double-double of his professional career, finishing with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds, including four offensive boards.
Although the Clippers fell 99-85 to the Lakers, the former Wildcat once again played with the aggressive, high-energy style Larranaga described just one game earlier.
His relentless effort on the glass and willingness to battle for extra possessions continued to stand out throughout the contest.
Those qualities should come as no surprise to Northwestern fans.
Martinelli built that reputation over four seasons at Northwestern, where he developed into one of the Big Ten's top players and one of the Wildcats' most respected leaders.
While his scoring often grabbed the headlines, his physical style of play, competitiveness and willingness to do the little things made him one of the Wildcats' most respected leaders.
Whether diving for loose balls, fighting through contact or standing up for teammates, Martinelli consistently played with the edge coaches love to see.
Mar 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Josh Reed (10) battles for the ball with Northwestern Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli (2) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesThat same mentality has already begun translating to the NBA.
Through his first three Summer League games, Martinelli has continued earning additional minutes while showing he can impact games in a variety of ways. His rebounding, defensive effort and team-first approach have complemented his scoring ability, helping him steadily build trust within the Clippers organization.
For a rookie trying to establish himself, hearing those kinds of words from his Summer League head coach has to be encouraging.
It also reinforces that the Clippers value more than just Martinelli's offensive production. His toughness, competitiveness and willingness to embrace physical basketball have already left an impression on the coaching staff.
Summer League is only the beginning, and Martinelli still has plenty of time to learn, develop and continue adjusting to the NBA game. If he continues playing with the same aggressive mindset and relentless energy that earned Larranaga's praise, he'll put himself in an even stronger position to compete for meaningful opportunities during his rookie season.
For Northwestern fans, it's another encouraging reminder that one of the program's greatest recent players is bringing the same winning mentality that defined his collegiate career to the professional level.
