Former Northwestern players made plenty of noise during NBA Summer League. From Nick Martinelli's breakout performances to Brooks Barnhizer's consistency and Boo Buie's tough stretch, here's a final report card for every Wildcat who took the floor.
Northwestern had five representatives make an impact during NBA Summer League, whether on the court or on the sidelines. From Nick Martinelli's breakout performances to Brooks Barnhizer's consistency and Sanjay Lumpkin's successful debut as a head coach, here's how each former Wildcat graded out.
Nick Martinelli - A+
No former Wildcat helped his stock more than Nick Martinelli.
Selected with the No. 55 overall pick, Martinelli entered Summer League looking to prove he belonged at the NBA level. Instead, he exceeded expectations by becoming one of the Clippers' most productive and efficient players.
Summer League Stats
- 14.8 PPG
- 6.4 RPG
- 1.6 APG
- 60.4% FG
- 50.0% 3PT
Martinelli earned a starting role, recorded a double-double, received praise from Clippers assistant coach Jay Larranaga, who compared his toughness to Marcus Smart and consistently improved throughout the tournament.
He finished Summer League looking like one of the steals of the 2026 NBA Draft and significantly increased his chances of earning a role with the Clippers during his rookie season.
Brooks Barnhizer - A
Barnhizer looked every bit like the versatile player Oklahoma City hoped it was getting when it signed him to a two-way contract.
He averaged 13.0 points and 9.5 rebounds, recorded three double-doubles, and showcased his versatility by contributing as a scorer, rebounder, facilitator and defender.
Perhaps most importantly, Barnhizer became increasingly comfortable offensively as the tournament progressed, even leading the Thunder in shot attempts during the final game.
His Summer League performance only strengthened his case to earn opportunities with one of the NBA's deepest rosters.
Sanjay Lumpkin - B+
Lumpkin's first opportunity as an NBA Summer League head coach couldn't have started much better.
Atlanta opened the tournament 3-0, with Lumpkin helping guide one of Summer League's most disciplined teams before finishing 3-2 overall.
While Summer League is primarily about player development, Lumpkin showed he can successfully lead a team while continuing to build his coaching resume.
Pete Nance - B
Nance had a solid Summer League but didn't completely separate himself.
He averaged roughly 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, showing the versatility that has helped him stick around the NBA.
However, as one of the more experienced players on the floor, there were moments where you expected him to take over games more consistently. Nance still had a productive Summer League, but a stronger offensive presence could have helped him stand out even more.
Boo Buie - C-
Summer League didn't go the way Boo Buie hoped.
The former Northwestern star averaged 5.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists over five games while struggling to find offensive consistency.
That said, it's only a small sample, and Buie has repeatedly proven throughout his career that he responds well to adversity. It wasn't the breakthrough performance he hoped for, but another opportunity in training camp or the G League could still allow him to continue pursuing an NBA roster spot.
