Four former Northwestern Wildcats are suiting up for three different NBA teams at the 2026 Summer League in Las Vegas, a notable showing for a program still building its professional pipeline.

Brooks Barnhizer (Oklahoma City Thunder), Boo Buie (Chicago Bulls), Nick Martinelli (LA Clippers), and Pete Nance (Milwaukee Bucks) all began Summer League play at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus starting Thursday, July 9. The 11-day event runs through July 19 and features all 30 NBA teams.

Northwestern Basketball announced the four-player contingent on its official X account on Wednesday, July 8, linking to a full schedule for each player.

Martinelli: The Newest Pro

Martinelli arrives in Vegas as the freshest face. The 6-foot-7 forward from Glenbrook South was selected 55th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, traded twice on draft night before landing with the Clippers, who signed him to a two-way contract.

His Northwestern résumé speaks loudly. Martinelli was a two-time All-Big Ten second-team selection and two-time Big Ten scoring champion, averaging 23.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 41.7% from three in his final season, according to CBS Sports. The Clippers opened their Summer League slate against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, July 9.

Barnhizer: Building on a Rookie Year

Barnhizer, the No. 44 pick in the 2025 draft, completed his rookie season with the Thunder, appearing in 40 regular-season games and averaging 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game, per CBS Sports. OKC tendered him a qualifying offer, making the 24-year-old a restricted free agent.

He already showed out in the Salt Lake City Summer League, posting 15 points and 10 rebounds against the Jazz on Tuesday, July 7, serving as OKC's primary offensive option. His Vegas schedule begins Friday, July 10 against the Lakers at 9 p.m. CT on Prime Video.

Nance: The Veteran

Nance is the most established NBA player of the group. The 6-foot-9 forward/center played a career-best 47 games for Milwaukee in 2025-26, averaging 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 15.7 minutes while shooting 51.5% from the field, according to HoopsHype. He scored a career-high 23 points at Houston on Wednesday, April 1.

The Bucks re-signed Nance on Thursday, July 9, and he'll tip off Summer League play Friday, July 10 against the Miami Heat at 3 p.m. CT on Prime Video.

Buie: Northwestern's All-Time Scorer

Buie, who set Northwestern's career scoring record before going undrafted in 2024, joins the Bulls' Summer League roster as a 6-foot-2 guard wearing No. 20. He spent the 2025-26 season with the Mexico City Capitanes in the NBA G League. The Chicago Tribune noted Buie's name "might catch the attention of Chicago basketball fans" on the Bulls' roster.

Chicago opens Friday, July 10 against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 p.m. CT on Prime Video.

How to Watch

All 76 Summer League games air live on Prime Video or ESPN platforms. Here's a quick guide for tracking the Wildcats:

  • Clippers (Martinelli): Thursday, July 9 vs. Sacramento (10 p.m. CT, ESPN); Sunday, July 12 vs. Utah (9 p.m. CT, Prime); Tuesday, July 14 vs. Lakers (9 p.m. CT, Prime); Wednesday, July 15 vs. Washington (9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN)
  • Thunder (Barnhizer): Friday, July 10 vs. Lakers (9 p.m. CT, Prime); Sunday, July 12 vs. Warriors (5 p.m. CT, Prime); Tuesday, July 14 vs. Nuggets (8 p.m. CT, ESPN); Thursday, July 16 vs. Mavericks (3 p.m. CT, Prime)
  • Bucks (Nance): Friday, July 10 vs. Miami (3 p.m. CT, Prime); Sunday, July 12 vs. San Antonio (8 p.m. CT, ESPN); Monday, July 13 vs. Phoenix (9 p.m. CT, Prime); Wednesday, July 15 vs. Charlotte (6:30 p.m. CT, Prime)
  • Bulls (Buie): Friday, July 10 vs. Memphis (7 p.m. CT, Prime); Monday, July 13 vs. Utah (8 p.m. CT, ESPN); Tuesday, July 14 vs. Washington (7 p.m. CT, Prime); Thursday, July 16 vs. Lakers (5 p.m. CT, Prime)

The top four teams advance to semifinals on Saturday, July 18, with the championship game Sunday, July 19 on ESPN.