The Northwestern forward proves his unique scoring touch at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, aiming to translate his identity to the NBA.
About two months after his emotional farewell at the United Center, Nick Martinelli showed out in the city of Chicago — at Wintrust Arena, just six miles away from where he concluded his Wildcats career.
Holding an invitation to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, the Northwestern forward walked onto a new and higher stage that could decide whether he will be a carpenter or a professional basketball player. But the place wasn’t new at all to him, where he'd played four times when facing Chicago rival DePaul.
Same court, but different vibe. The Blue Demons' hardwood had been rearranged with an NBA sign, and more importantly, he was no longer with his Wildcats program, where he called home, creating a sense of strangeness around him.
But thankfully, he found a sense of familiarity.
"It's such a great experience, even sitting down, picking people's brains, asking them about certain plays," Martinelli said Wednesday. He met a couple of players he competed against in the Big Ten, such as Michigan guard Jeremy Fear Jr. who comes from the suburbs in Joliet, and "chirped" with them.
This week, Martinelli went through his first full draft combine procedures close to home, including body measurements, skillset drills and 5-on-5 scrimmages.
As a 6-foot-7 forward who looks undersized in the paint but threatens with his floaters and shooting, Martinelli has always been classified as an unorthodox frontcourt player. His vertical jump numbers tell the story: 26.5 inches non-step (67th among 71 participants) and 33.0 inches maximum (58th among 71 participants).
"I need to work more on everything, I'm not a perfect guy," Martinelli said, mocking himself for his modest jumping heights. However, he did compensate with his scoring touch during the 5-on-5 scrimmages, scoring 18 and 13 points in two games apiece.
Unlike playing with the Wildcats, Martinelli didn't touch the ball as frequently, though he also didn't face the constant double teams that Big Ten foes deployed against him. What made Martinelli shine on paper was his ability to find space for opportunities and make buckets through cuts while doing his best defensively.
Meanwhile, he didn't shy away from being "unorthodox" in the way he plays.
"Through years, everyone's always told me 'it doesn't look good,' 'you don't pass the eye test,' I hear it all the time," he said. "Obviously, it gets to me a little bit, but at the end of the day, I've truly been blessed with gifts from God, the touch and just the way that I move. I see it as a blessing, and other people might see it as a curse.
"I'm just coming out here to win games. I'll do whatever it takes to get there. If it's shooting a floater from 18 feet off a short roll, a 22-foot step-back that helps us win—it's a game, it's a competition. I'm a competitor. I've been blessed with true passion and love for the game."
During the combine, the Wildcats coach Chris Collins was in Wintrust Arena to support Martinelli. Though Martinelli is no longer with the program and is ready to graduate, Collins still instructed him before the combine, "nitpicking" what's right or wrong on his play.
"You guys saw me as a freshman getting my butt kicked in practice really bad," Martinelli joked. "He's somebody that keeps me stable. I think over four years, somebody doing that for you is a blessing. He's been huge in my development."
Last year, Martinelli withdrew from the draft combine despite going through the pre-draft process, returning to Northwestern for his final season. Though the Wildcats suffered a 15-19 record and couldn't reach the postseason after losing to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament's third round, he doesn't regret his decision.
"I don't ever have regrets about whatever decisions that I make. They build me into who I am. They gave me strong character," Martinelli said. "To have that losing season is just to be so motivated to win again. That's a blessing."
Moreover, he received feedback from teams last year requesting improvements in shooting and athleticism. Martinelli responded, leading the Big Ten scoreboard again with 23.0 points per game and shooting 51.0% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range last season. Though athleticism remained a weakness, Martinelli embraced it and worked on becoming a player who impacts winning.
"I want to be as effective as possible," he said. "They also want to see my athleticism. You all saw my vertical leap. It is what it is, but God's given me all types of gifts. I can't complain."
So far, Martinelli has interviewed with the Minnesota Timberwolves and is scheduled to meet with more teams. He said some teams' scouts have "seriously" put him into consideration. Self-aware as a potential second-rounder, Martinelli understands what qualities teams seek in order to make his NBA dream a reality.
"I think the tenacity is just the way I approach the game," he said. "I just want to play the right way. I want to respect the game every time. I want to work my butt off."
When asked if the Chicago Bulls were on his meeting list, he denied but longed.
"That would be amazing if I get to meet Chicago Bulls, you never know," he said with smile.