CHICAGO — When Braden Smith stepped onto the floor at the NBA Draft Combine, he carried a chip on his shoulder that’s been there his entire career. The Purdue standout point guard, projected as a second-round pick, knows the narrative all too well: he’s too small. But this week, in front of scouts and NBA teams, he’s rewriting that story.
Smith’s size — officially listed at 6 feet — has always been the elephant in the room. Yet on the court, he plays like a giant. During Wednesday’s 5-on-5 scrimmage, former Arizona guard Jaden Bradley, who faced Smith in the Elite Eight, felt the full force of his game. “He plays like he’s 6-4, 6-5,” Bradley said. “He’s a tough-nosed guy. He can score it. He can really pass it. Every time I play him, he just gets better and better.”
That passing is what sets Smith apart. He confidently calls himself the best passer in this year’s draft class — and the numbers back it up. As the NCAA’s career assists leader, Smith has the resume to prove it. At the combine, his teammates are quick to agree. Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli recalled a pickup game with Smith last year: “It’s amazing to watch. You’re just running, and the ball ends up in your hands. You’re like, ‘How the heck did that happen?’”
Smith has even used that elite vision in team interviews, comparing his game to a blend of current NBA players. But when it comes to passing, he says there’s no comparison — he’s in a league of his own.
Still, it’s not just his playmaking that’s turning heads. Among the 67 players at the combine, only four ranked in the top 25 in spot-up shooting, five-star shooting, off-the-dribble shooting, shuttle run, and max vertical leap. Smith is one of them. “I know I’m quick. I know I’m fast. I can move. I can jump. I just obviously don’t dunk,” Smith said with a grin. “Being able to come out here and show that — it changes the conversation.”
For a player who’s spent his whole career proving doubters wrong, the combine is just another stage. And Braden Smith is making every moment count.