Four former Northwestern basketball players received NBA 2K27 ratings, with Pat Spencer leading the group at 75 overall, followed by Pete Nance, Brooks Barnhizer and Nick Martinelli.
Northwestern basketball has four former players represented in NBA 2K27, giving Wildcats fans another way to follow some of the program’s recent stars as they continue their careers at the highest level.
With NBA 2K27 ratings now being released, four former Northwestern players have received an overall rating ahead of the upcoming NBA season.
Pat Spencer leads the group with a 75 overall rating, followed by Pete Nance at 71, Brooks Barnhizer at 69 and Nick Martinelli at 68.
While these numbers are ultimately just video game ratings, it is still a cool recognition for four players who once wore the purple and white and are now represented in one of the most popular sports video games in the world.
Pat Spencer Leads Former Wildcats
Spencer received the highest rating among the four former Wildcats with a 75 overall.
After establishing himself as a solid NBA player, Spencer enters a new chapter with the Phoenix Suns and will look to continue building his role at the NBA level.
The Suns begin their season Oct. 21, giving Spencer another opportunity to continue developing and contributing at the highest level.
His 75 overall rating puts him at the top of Northwestern’s group in NBA 2K27, reflecting the progress he has made since leaving Evanston.
Brooks Barnhizer Looks to Take Another Step
Barnhizer enters his second NBA season with the Oklahoma City Thunder after spending his rookie season developing within a talented organization.
He received a 69 overall rating in NBA 2K27.
With another year of NBA experience under his belt and a solid summer league showing, Barnhizer will look to earn more opportunities and potentially become a bigger part of Oklahoma City’s rotation during his sophomore season.
The Thunder begin their season Oct. 20.
For Barnhizer, the next step will be turning the development he has made behind the scenes into more opportunities on the court.
Nick Martinelli Receives Rookie Rating
Martinelli is the newest Northwestern graduate to reach the NBA and received a 68 overall rating for his rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
After a highly productive summer league, Martinelli enters his first NBA season with plenty of room to develop.
His skill set and scoring ability made him one of the most productive players in Northwestern history, and now he will have the opportunity to continue that development against the best players in the world.
Martinelli is scheduled to begin his NBA season Oct. 10 as part of the 2026 NBA Canada Games, giving Wildcats fans an early opportunity to see the former Northwestern star at the next level.
A 68 overall rating gives Martinelli plenty of room to grow, making his progression throughout the season particularly interesting to follow.
Mar 12, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern Wildcats head coach Chris Collins hugs forward Nick Martinelli (2) as he leaves the game against Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesPete Nance Returns to Milwaukee
Nance received a 71 overall rating after re-signing with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The former Northwestern big man will look to establish himself as a more consistent contributor in Milwaukee as he continues his NBA career.
The Bucks begin their season Oct. 21, giving Nance another opportunity to prove himself and carve out a larger role.
His 71 overall rating puts him second among the four former Wildcats in NBA 2K27.
Four Wildcats, One More Way to Follow Their Careers
NBA 2K ratings are not the ultimate measure of a player’s ability, and a few points in either direction do not determine how successful a player will be.
Still, seeing four former Northwestern players represented in NBA 2K27 is a pretty cool accomplishment.
Millions of players will pick up the game, build teams and play with current NBA stars, and now four former Wildcats are part of that experience. More importantly, all four players are still developing their NBA careers.
Spencer is continuing to establish himself in Phoenix, Barnhizer is entering his second season in Oklahoma City, Martinelli is beginning his rookie campaign with the Clippers and Nance is looking to take another step with Milwaukee.
Their ratings will likely change as their careers progress, making it interesting for Northwestern fans to check back throughout the season and see how their virtual ratings compare with their real-world development.
For now, the numbers provide another fun reminder of how much Northwestern basketball has contributed to the NBA.
