Braden Smith, a 5‑foot‑10½ point guard from Purdue, is projected to be selected in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft, with most analysts placing him between the 35th and 43rd overall picks.
A Record‑Setting Journey
His college résumé reads like a Hall of Fame highlight reel: he finished his Boilermaker career as the NCAA’s all‑time assist leader with 1,103 career assists, earned two consensus first‑team All‑American honors, and captured the 2025 Big Ten Player of the Year award as well as the Bob Cousy Award for the nation’s top point guard.
Smith anchored a Purdue squad that finished 30‑9 last season, guiding the team to the Elite Eight and cementing his status as the Big Ten’s leading scorer while also dishing out the most assists in school history.
Draft Outlook and Historical Context
The last player under six feet to hear his name called in the NBA Draft was Shane Larkin in 2013, a milestone that has not been replicated since. If Smith’s name is called, he would join Zach Edey as the second Boilermaker from the 2024 national runner‑up team to be drafted, following the towering center’s own historic run.
Another Purdue prospect, forward Trey Kaufman‑Renn, is slated to be picked 59th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Yahoo! Sports, underscoring the Boilermakers’ continued presence in the draft conversation.
The draft itself will be televised on ABC and ESPN, with streaming options across multiple platforms, ensuring that fans can follow Smith’s potential transition from West Lafayette to the professional ranks.