Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli Selected by Los Angeles Clippers in 2026 NBA Draft
6/24/2026 9:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli has been selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday night.
Martinelli is the second Wildcat draft selection in the past two seasons, joining Brooks Barnhizer, who went 44th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder last year. This marks Northwestern's first consecutive seasons with NBA Draft picks in the modern two-round draft era.
The lefty rose from a rotation player on Northwestern's 2022-23 NCAA Tournament squad to one of the most prolific scorers in conference history during his four seasons in Evanston. With a signature lefty hook and an arrow of offensive tools in his arsenal, Martinelli became a nationally prominent force by his senior season.
In 2025-26, Martinelli led the Big Ten in scoring for the second year in a row, averaging 23.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He registered a 51% field goal percentage, 41.7% 3-point percentage and an 80.9% free throw percentage.
The senior's scoring average was the highest by a Wildcat since Dale Kelley posted a school-record 24.3 points per game in 1969-70. He was an Associated Press First Team All-Big Ten honoree and earned second team all-conference honors by Big Ten coaches and media in 2026.
He shattered Northwestern's single-season scoring record, set by himself in 2024-25, with 759 points in 33 games played in 2025-26. Martinelli is the only player in Big Ten history to score at least 20 points against all 18 of the conference's member schools, achieving that mark with a 28-point display against Purdue on March 4.
Martinelli finished his collegiate career with 46 games of 20-plus-points, the most by a Wildcat since at least 2004. His 1,786 career points rank sixth in program history.
The Glenview, Ill., native is one of just three players in Northwestern history to play in four NCAA Tournament games. Martinelli, Boo Buie and Barnhizer share this exclusive status.
Martinelli is the second Wildcat draft selection in the past two seasons, joining Brooks Barnhizer, who went 44th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder last year. This marks Northwestern's first consecutive seasons with NBA Draft picks in the modern two-round draft era.
Wildcat Heading West ????
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) June 25, 2026
Two-time Big Ten scoring champion Nick Martinelli has been drafted by the @LAClippers ?????? pic.twitter.com/ZZLfHZeWLu
The lefty rose from a rotation player on Northwestern's 2022-23 NCAA Tournament squad to one of the most prolific scorers in conference history during his four seasons in Evanston. With a signature lefty hook and an arrow of offensive tools in his arsenal, Martinelli became a nationally prominent force by his senior season.
In 2025-26, Martinelli led the Big Ten in scoring for the second year in a row, averaging 23.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He registered a 51% field goal percentage, 41.7% 3-point percentage and an 80.9% free throw percentage.
The senior's scoring average was the highest by a Wildcat since Dale Kelley posted a school-record 24.3 points per game in 1969-70. He was an Associated Press First Team All-Big Ten honoree and earned second team all-conference honors by Big Ten coaches and media in 2026.
He shattered Northwestern's single-season scoring record, set by himself in 2024-25, with 759 points in 33 games played in 2025-26. Martinelli is the only player in Big Ten history to score at least 20 points against all 18 of the conference's member schools, achieving that mark with a 28-point display against Purdue on March 4.
Martinelli finished his collegiate career with 46 games of 20-plus-points, the most by a Wildcat since at least 2004. His 1,786 career points rank sixth in program history.
The Glenview, Ill., native is one of just three players in Northwestern history to play in four NCAA Tournament games. Martinelli, Boo Buie and Barnhizer share this exclusive status.
Players Mentioned
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