It wasn’t all that long ago that the idea of former Nebraska basketball guard Sam Hoiberg playing in the NBA would have been laughed off rather quickly. Of course, it wasn’t all that long ago that Hoiberg being a key piece of the Huskers' run to their first-ever NCAA Tournament win and then first-ever appearance in the Sweet Sixteen would have been laughed off as well. Once considered a decent player off the bench, a nice complementary piece, Hoiberg made himself extremely valuable, especially in the 2025-26 season.
Now the guard is looking to prove doubters wrong again. While it’s extremely unlikely Hoiberg would ever be drafted, he is at least getting a chance to show NBA teams what he can do, up close and personal. The Indiana Pacers announced on Wednesday that the former Husker is among a batch of pro basketball hopefuls trying out for the team.
In addition to the former Nebraska basketball star, Michigan’s Nimari Burnett, Indiana’s Tucker Devries, Houston’s Emanuel Sharp, Miami (OH)’s Peter Suder, and North Carolina’s Seth Trimble will work out for the Pacers on Thursday.
Hoiberg is coming off the best season of his career, and while the statistics are not eye-poppingly impressive, they were good enough, in one of the best conferences in the country, that they have clearly caught the attention of at least one NBA franchise. In the 2025-26 season, the Husker linchpin scored 9.3 points per game (6 ppg more than his previous high) as well as 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest. Those numbers also clear his career highs quite easily.
Nebraska’s Sam Hoiberg has an NBA pre-draft workout with the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. 🌽🏀 pic.twitter.com/U1MYh1fzdm
— Robin Washut (@RobinWashut) May 27, 2026
Sam Hoiberg gives Nebraska basketball another underdog story with Indiana Pacers workout
Hoiberg has also been someone who has helped Nebraska get better every year he’s been with the program, first as a bench player and then this past season as a starter. Not just a coach’s son who understands the technical importance of doing things right, he’s spearheaded a culture change that helped NU go as far as it ever has in the NCAA Tournament.
Sam Hoiberg is also a tough and gritty player who does all the little things right. He’s someone who can prove the doubters wrong and do Nebraska proud. It’s hard to imagine that after Indiana gets a look at him up close and personal, he doesn’t make an impression with them for after the draft.
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