Nebraska basketball has a storied draft history dating back to 1949, when Claude Retherford was selected by the St. Louis Bombers as the program's first professional draft pick. It wasn't until 1991 that Nebraska saw its first-ever first-round selection, with Rich King going 14th overall to the Seattle SuperSonics. This was the beginning of a notable trend, as three consecutive first-round picks followed: Eric Piatkowski and Tyronn Lue in the early '90s.

Recent years have seen further representation in the NBA, notably with Bryce McGowens, who was selected 40th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in 2022. Despite his young career consisting of only a few seasons, McGowens has already transitioned to the Portland Trail Blazers after being waived by Charlotte. Similarly, Dalano Banton and Isaiah Roby have also moved through multiple teams, showcasing the adaptability of Nebraska's talent on the professional stage.