The former Northwestern star earns a coveted NBA Draft Combine invite, positioning him to follow former Wildcats to professional basketball's highest stage.
Nick Martinelli's NBA dream takes another step forward.
On Friday, the NBA announced 73 players were invited to the AWS NBA Draft Combine, which will take place May 10-17 at Wintrust Arena and the adjoining Marriott Marquis in Chicago. Martinelli, the Wildcats' star who is graduating, was named one of the invitees. While Martinelli has yet to declare for the 2026 NBA Draft after finishing his final collegiate season, this marks his best chance to showcase his value in front of scouts.
Last season, Martinelli averaged a career-high 23.0 points and 6.5 rebounds, leading the Big Ten in scoring for the second consecutive year. He also posted a 51% field goal percentage, 41.7% three-point percentage and 80.9% free-throw percentage, demonstrating his efficiency and versatility as a scorer.
Despite Martinelli's breakout scoring season — his single-season points total marks the highest in program history — the 'Cats couldn't move forward in the 2025-26 campaign, wrapping up a struggling season with a 15-19 record (5-15 Big Ten). Martinelli played his final game in purple and white at the United Center, where the 'Cats lost to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament's third round.
Following Boo Buie and Brooks Barnhizer, Martinelli is the third player in Northwestern history to play in four NCAA Tournament games. Now the Glenview, Illi., native can follow his predecessors' footsteps en route to challenging basketball's highest stage.
Jan 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Big Ten Network analyst Don MacLean (left) interviews Northwestern Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli (2) after the game against the Southern California Trojans at the Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesCurrently, three Northwestern players are in the NBA: Pete Nance (Milwaukee Bucks), Pat Spencer (Golden State Warriors) and Barnhizer (Oklahoma City Thunder), who was Martinelli's former teammate and selected by the Thunder with the 44th pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, becoming the first Northwestern player drafted since 1999.
"I'm a true believer that God has a plan for me, so I'm trusting in His plan completely and I'm gonna work my butt off," Martinelli previously told Big Ten Network. "Whatever happens happens. Whether that be the NBA, whether it be overseas, whether I'm a carpenter, I'm good with it. I'm rolling with the punches and I'm going to work my butt off at whatever I do."
According to The Athletic's latest mock draft, Martinelli was projected at the 54th pick by the Warriors. As a frontcourt player, Martinelli's two-way impact and widespread arsenal aligns perfectly with modern NBA demands. His elite midrange and three-point shooting, combined with skillful footwork and speed in transition, embodies the versatility today's league covets.
The 2026 NBA Draft will take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on June 23-24.