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Jeff Borzello
THE HEIGHT OF BRADEN SMITH IS A TOPIC.
This isn’t about seeing him move around Purdue’s grounds; there, his height is noted, perhaps somewhat generously, as 6 feet. Instead, it’s about his potential as a prospect for the NBA. Purdue’s main point guard is, comparatively, diminutive. He’s familiar with this, his rivals are aware, and NBA recruiters also recognize it.
His lack of height contributed to him being a less-regarded high school player. Before Purdue gave him an opportunity with a scholarship, it seemed Belmont was the most likely place for him to end up.
“For me, it’s consistently been about overcoming uncertainty and silencing people who said I couldn’t,” Smith shared with ESPN. “Now, consider my current position relative to where I began.”
After achieving consensus first-team All-America status, Smith is positioned as the leading contender for national Player of the Year, playing for the No. 2 squad aiming for its first national title victory. Furthermore, he has the prospect of becoming the NCAA’s top player in terms of assists ever, and maybe even getting picked in the first part of the 2026 NBA selection process. That’s a significant challenge, given that in all but five of the previous 46 seasons, players in that league have generally been about 6-7 in height.
The conversation surrounding how important size is was amplified recently when Kevin Durant participated in the “Mind the Game” show with LeBron James and Steve Nash. He expressed that there aren’t numerous significant roles in the NBA for smaller guards in general.
“I’m not sure if guards who are 6-2 or less are as valued anymore, particularly as starters. Perhaps as support,” Durant noted. “If your height is around 6-foot or 6-1, and you lack the tenaciousness of someone like Davion Mitchell defensively, or the extraordinary offensive talent of Kyrie [Irving], who can easily outscore players who are 7-feet tall in one-on-one situations, it’s challenging for me to see it happening.”
The figures support Durant’s viewpoint.
Shane Larkin, chosen in the first round of the NBA draft back in 2013, was the last player shorter than 6 feet to achieve this. However, he was no longer part of the league three years later.
Looking at the last 10 NBA drafts, only two players under 6-foot — Carsen Edwards and Tremont Waters, selected in the second round in 2019 — along with two players who are exactly 6 feet tall — Mitchell (2021) and Aaron Holiday (2018), both picked in the first round — were chosen. The latter two are known as very dedicated defensive players and remain in the league. Currently, only one player with an NBA contract is shorter than 6 feet (Jordan McLaughlin, listed at 5-11).
For Smith to elevate his position in the next draft — he started at No. 33 on ESPN’s list of NBA draft prospects — his performance this year must be undeniably impressive. Teams need to be willing to take a chance because of his capabilities.
“I think I’m superior to some players who were selected early, and I believe I’ve proven that. I’ve achieved this, and I continue to do so,” Smith stated.
Meanwhile, he is dedicating his energy to Purdue. Helping the Boilermakers secure their first national championship could greatly assist in confirming his worth — repeatedly.
“What’s important is the final outcome of the year,” Smith emphasized. “My main goal is to ensure Purdue emerges as the team that triumphs in the national championship. I would readily give up anything else to achieve victory.”
EVEN THOUGH HE WAS considered an underappreciated newcomer after going through a high school period where he dealt with a broken bone in his left foot, Smith was instantly thrust into crucial responsibilities upon his arrival in West Lafayette, Indiana. Coach Matt Painter entrusted him with the task right away, directing him to take charge.
“That’s essentially the foundation of my entire career. Having a coach who believes in you,” Smith commented. “It makes a difference when someone has faith in you and lets you make mistakes, essentially navigate through challenges. I truly doubt I would have reached my current position and developed into the player I am without that backing.”
Smith, working with fellow newcomer Fletcher Loyer, was among those who started in Purdue’s match versus Milwaukee back on Nov. 8, 2022. Since then, he has been in the starting lineup for all 111 games. Painter offered his support throughout the highs and lows of Smith’s first year, particularly after a loss to 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson during the 2023 NCAA competition, a game in which Smith shot 2-for-10 and made seven errors.
This strategy has benefited all involved. Purdue secured a 1-seed position in both Smith’s first and second years, dropping just 11 matches in that span and moving to the national title competition in the latter. Following their top placement in the 2025-26 preseason AP Top 25, the Boilermakers have held the No. 1 rank in three of Smith’s four seasons. After the opening week, they lost that position to Houston. Nevertheless, 13 of the 14 weeks the program has spent at the top of the poll have occurred with Smith on the team.
“He saw that we supported him even when he faced difficulties. However, even during those challenging moments, he provided us with the best chance to succeed,” Painter stated.
Smith has consistently improved his skills with each season. He matured considerably during his second year, learning from his initial struggles, improving his assist-to-turnover rate to become a more effective playmaker and shooter from a distance. As a junior, he took center stage as the leader of Purdue’s offense and was recognized among the top point guards in the country after Zach Edey’s era. He reached personal bests in both points and assists, leading to his second-place ranking nationally in the latter.
During his final season, he is expected to perform at his best, leading a championship-winning team.
“He’s mainly focused on helping us achieve the national championship,” Loyer mentioned.
College basketball gossip circles suggested last spring that Smith might have considered transferring. However, he did not enter the portal, announcing on April 14 that he would be returning and “running it back one last time.”
Loyer acknowledges that the possibility was discussed right after their elimination in the Sweet 16, though Painter states that it never reached a point where he had to strongly persuade Smith and his family to remain.
Instead of pursuing a higher salary in the transfer portal, Smith was primarily thinking about the unfinished task of securing a championship.
“Transferring wasn’t something I considered,” he clarified.
In the current climate of college sports, where the transfer portal greatly influences every program, Smith’s decision to stay at one school for four years is significant. Loyer, who has started each of those 112 games alongside Smith, has followed a similar path. The same is true for Trey Kaufman-Renn, who patiently waited his turn behind Edey before becoming a first-team All-Big Ten forward last season, continuing the legacy of strong Purdue players.
Keeping their players has been crucial to Purdue’s consistent success under Painter. This explains why the Boilermakers are in the running for the No. 1 spot. It is also not by chance that the seniors’ dedication to the program has had an impact on one another.
“I believe there is always value in players who can influence winning,” Kaufman-Renn stated. “[Smith] is the best player I have ever played with who has an impact on winning. Full stop.”
EVEN AFTER RECEIVING THE national Player of the Year award as a junior in 2023, Edey entered his senior year at Purdue with doubts about his NBA chances. As a traditional center, he was seeking a spot in a league that was progressing toward a quicker, more adaptable style of play. Could Edey be effective in a team that wanted to run? Was he quick enough to defend effectively in a league focused on ball-screen plays?
After winning his second Player of the Year award consecutively, Edey was drafted No. 9 and played a key role for the Memphis Grizzlies as a rookie.
Smith, who is shorter than Edey by a foot-and-a-half, faces similar concerns.
“He has an impact on whether we win or lose. His talent as a passer is unmatched nationwide. Everyone who plays with a point guard who can put the ball exactly where it should be will want him on their team,” Painter mentioned. “He’s competitive. If you check the statistics for players who are around 5-11, you will see his rebound numbers are likely the highest.
“I view him in much the same way [as Edey]. It’s similar to asking, ‘Do you dislike Payton Pritchard? Or T.J. McConnell?’ They are exceptional. He possesses those same qualities. I understand the challenges he faces, but many NBA players face hurdles. He needs to overcome them.”
Pritchard, noted as 6-1, was chosen in the first round in 2020 and has secured a consistent position as a substitute for the Boston Celtics. Dana Altman, who coached him at Oregon and played against Smith last year, sees parallels.
“I value his competitiveness and leadership, along with his talent and passing abilities,” Altman stated regarding Smith. “Having a point guard like that – someone like Payton Pritchard that we had for four years – simplifies the job. You can just stand there, clap, pretend you are doing something, and allow them to handle everything. I also admired his competitive nature.”
These inherent qualities may explain why Smith was among the 12 college players chosen to participate in the Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp in Las Vegas over the summer. NBA scouts observed that he performed well against the top guards in the nation.
Nevertheless, their reservations centered on Smith’s lack of height and athleticism.
“Due to his height, I don’t see him being picked in the first round,” one NBA evaluator commented. “He is undoubtedly a highly productive player who is determined to win. He will find his place on an NBA team because he is committed to posting strong numbers. Someone will want to offer him an opportunity. He will be drafted based on his productivity and achievements in college.”
An NBA scout highlighted McLaughlin as an example of the challenges Smith may encounter. McLaughlin spent time with various teams and the G League before securing regular minutes with the San Antonio Spurs.
“His route to the NBA will not be simple, as there will always be concerns about his stature,” the scout mentioned.
However, Smith’s teammates believe that his other qualities – his passing, shooting, resilience, and leadership – will outweigh everything else.
As Smith’s senior season begins, there are immediate, practical stakes for him and Purdue. He could become the program’s third Wooden Award winner in four years and is likely to be a two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Player of the Year.
He needs 299 assists to surpass Bobby Hurley’s NCAA record (1,076), which is achievable given that Smith had 313 last season, averaging 8.7 in 36 games. Purdue could potentially play up to 40 games this season if they reach the Big Ten tournament title game and the national championship game. In that case, Smith would need to average just under eight assists to set the record. If he maintains the same average as last season, he would need 37 games to break it.
But achieving team success, particularly leading the Boilermakers to their first national championship, is Smith’s top priority. The fact that they came close to a title two years ago, along with the fact that this year’s Final Four is in Indianapolis, close to Purdue’s campus, has intensified the urgency within the program.
If Smith follows Edey’s path, Purdue’s success could improve his NBA prospects. Last season, Walter Clayton Jr. went from being unranked on ESPN’s NBA draft list in November to being a first-round pick after leading Florida to the national championship.
“That’s why I chose to return, and that’s my aim,” Smith stated. “I want individual accolades and recognition, which is why I strive to be successful. I want all those honors. But I would be willing to trade them all for a national championship.”
