Could Victor Wembanyama benefit from having a pure scorer like Nick Martinelli alongside him?
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder produced one of the most jaw-dropping NBA playoff games ever on Monday night. Between miraculous shot-making, exceptional defense and high-stakes performances, the matchup inspired excitement in basketball fans everywhere that the Spurs and Thunder would be the league's rivalry to watch over the next half-decade.
By this time next year, both squads could have a tie to Northwestern as well.
Brooks Barnhizer is ineligible to compete in the playoffs after completing his rookie season as a two-way player for Oklahoma City, but the former Wildcat wing is on the sidelines providing energy and support as the Thunder seek to defend their 2025 title. San Antonio could look to add a Northwestern alum to its team in this summer's NBA Draft: Barnhizer's former college roommate, Nick Martinelli.
In his latest mock draft, Yahoo! Sports writer Kevin O'Connor predicted the Spurs would select Martinelli with the No. 44 overall pick in the second round.
"Martinelli is a 6-7 lefty who hunts mismatches in the post, uses footwork and physicality to compensate for his average athletic profile, and plays with a fire in his belly," O'Connor wrote. "He arrived at Northwestern as a three-star recruit, got notably better in each season, and proceeded to become the back-to-back Big Ten scoring champion. There are no questions about his work ethic. The real concern is about whether he can adapt at the next level when he can’t feast on smaller players, and when he’ll be targeted on defense. But he has beaten the odds so far and will receive chances to prove he belongs in the NBA."
Jan 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Northwestern Wildcats forward Nick Martinelli (2) dribbles the ball against the Southern California Trojans in the first half at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesO'Connor's projection is the highest yet for Martinelli, who was widely expected to be in the undrafted free agent range during his collegiate career. The two-time All-Big Ten forward began his climb up draft boards after a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine last week in Chicago. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman mocked Martinelli to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 47 overall pick, which was the previous high for Northwestern's star scorer.
Outlets like ESPN and ClutchPoints slotted Martinelli at the end of the first round at Nos. 58 and 59 overall, respectively.
Martinelli ended his Northwestern career with the sixth-most points in program history and the two most prolific scoring seasons by a Wildcat ever. As a junior, the Glenview, Ill., native broke the school record with 676 points and 251 made field goals, then surpassed his own records as a senior. Martinelli's final season in purple and white featured averages of 23.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting a blistering 51.0% overall and 41.7% from deep.
Barnhizer was similarly the No. 44 overall pick last June, when the Thunder made him the first Wildcat to be selected in the NBA Draft since Evan Eschmeyer in 1999. The 6-foot-5 wing defender appeared in 40 NBA games for OKC, averaging 1.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. Barnhizer posted 18.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game in 21 outings with the G League's Oklahoma City Blue as well.
