Former Northwestern University forward Nick Martinelli remains on the board entering the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, June 24, 2026.
The 22-year-old prospect measured 6 feet, 6.5 inches without shoes at the NBA Draft Combine, with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and a 224-pound frame.
Martinelli won consecutive Big Ten scoring titles, averaging 23.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game during his senior season while shooting 51 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range.
Various media outlets project Martinelli as a second-round selection.
Bleacher Report and ClutchPoints slot him at No. 41 to the Miami Heat, while The Athletic links him to the Phoenix Suns or New York Knicks at No. 47, and ESPN places him at No. 57 to the Atlanta Hawks.
National talent evaluators highlighted the forward's efficient midrange shooting and physical style near the rim, despite registering a 26.5-inch standing vertical jump and a 3.48-second three-quarter sprint at the combine.
NBA.
com analyzed his playing style, describing him as a left-handed scorer who operates between the paint and the arc, using fakes, jabs, and fluid footwork.
The site noted that he converts at a rate among the most efficient high-volume midrange shooters in college basketball.
The draft profile further stated that Martinelli possesses the necessary strength to compete defensively at the professional level.
ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo analyzed the prospect's competitive traits and structural limitations ahead of the second round.
"Martinelli is a tough, hard-nosed scorer with a clever midrange game. His competitiveness and consistency allowed him to carry a huge offensive load for Northwestern.
While Martinelli shot a career-best 41% from 3 this year, it's not viewed as an area of strength.
He's physical, but lacks ideal quickness defensively and is a bit undersized for a 4. It's easy to like Martinelli's intangibles and history of improvement in college.
He will need to continue improving as a 3-point shooter to maximize his chances of carving out a depth role," Woo said.
The draft continues on Wednesday night as NBA franchises finalize their secondary rosters.
