‘Cats in the NBA Summer League 2026

There’s quite a few names rostered all around the summer classic in Las Vegas.

Just a few weeks after the conclusion of the season and the crowning of the Oklahoma City Thunder as NBA champions, basketball is already back. NBA fans get a momentary fix to their hoops withdrawals, and they’ll get to see recently drafted or signed prospects show what they have.

Those prospects will play alongside some players who have NBA experience but have yet to have the chance to prove themselves. For Northwestern basketball fanatics, the Summer League this year is uniquely special, with a plethora of former Wildcat stars back on the hardwood. Let’s take a look at where the former ‘Cats will be lacing up their shoes this summer.

Brooks Barnhizer — Oklahoma City Thunder

In a surprising but exciting chain of events, Brooks Barnhizer shot up draft boards as the NBA Draft approached and was ultimately drafted by the reigning champion Thunder at No. 44. Despite a foot injury cutting Barnhizer’s season short back in January, his hard-nosed defense and tough mentality were enough to get him noticed, and he found his home on a team who fits that same identity perfectly.

Reuniting with his former teammate-turned-coach Ryan Greer, Barnhizer looked prepared to get his pro career underway. In his first-ever professional performance, that same identity was put on display. In 28 minutes of action, Barnhizer had a ridiculous 13 rebounds — good for second all-time in OKC Summer League history — to accompany nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field.

Since then, Barnhizer has further shown his defensive prowess to the point where he’s garnered national attention and left Thunder fans impatient to sign him to a full contract. Barnhizer became the first player ever in the Summer League to record back-to-back six-plus steal performances after recording seven against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday and six more versus the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

No. 23 is showing exactly why he was so beloved back in Evanston, bringing his tenacious defensive effort and knack for going after the ball at all times. Even when his shot — up-and-down thus far — isn’t falling, Barnhizer finds ways to make a marked impact on the game, a big reason why he could be a future contributor to a championship-caliber team.

Boo Buie — Denver Nuggets

One of the most unforgettable players in Northwestern athletics history, Boo Buie now enters his second year of pro ball still looking to make a name for himself on the next level. Agent Zero found his way onto the New York Knicks roster in his rookie season before spending his whole year as part of the G-League Westchester Knicks.

Heading into Year Two, Buie joined the Nuggets Summer League roster with hopes to show off his microwave offensive ability and strong character as a point guard who can direct the offense and keep his cool under pressure. To this point, Buie has appeared in two games for Denver, with wildly different results. Despite a one-point loss to former teammate Pete Nance and the Milwaukee Bucks, Buie made the most of his twelve minutes of action, scoring 10 points on 2-of-5 shooting and tallying three rebounds and an assist as well. The following matchup didn’t present quite the same opportunities, as Buie saw just three minutes on the floor and was unable to record any stats.

The undersized guard will have a couple more opportunities to prove himself and potentially earn his spot on an NBA roster, with matchups tonight against the Toronto Raptors and on Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers to come.

Pete Nance — Milwaukee Bucks

Though he may have transferred to North Carolina for his final collegiate season, ‘Cats fans still claim Nance as one of their own, and his success in the NBA is not going unnoticed. After appearing in eight games for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2023-24 season, Nance totaled 13 games for the Philadelphia 76ers and Bucks, even notching his first start back in April. However, he still spent most of his winter with the G-League Wisconsin Herd.

Now back at the Summer League, Nance looks poised to keep his roster spot for the upcoming year. Nance has started all three of the Bucks’ Summer League games, averaging 14.3 points on an efficient 52% shooting from the field. His 6-foot-10, 220-pound frame combined with a more confident outside shooting ability has allowed Nance to take a noticeable step forward and be a centerpiece on the Bucks’ Summer League roster.

Nance will need to continue to be a meaningful offensive contributor to have a chance at upgrading his current two-way contract. But given all the free agency frenzy going on in Milwaukee as of recent, Nance should have plenty of opportunity to slot into the roster as a potential rotational piece.