WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue’s senior point guard Braden Smith became only the fifth player in Division I history to record 1,000 career assists during Thursday night’s game against No. 13 Michigan State. Smith earned his milestone assist on a basket by Trey Kaufman-Renn with 6:43 remaining in the first half, pushing him past this rare achievement.
Game Highlights and Coach’s Recognition
Smith started the game by assisting on C.J. Cox’s opening 3-pointer and finished with 10 assists, although Purdue narrowly lost 76-74. Head coach Matt Painter praised Smith’s dedication and effort, stating,
“Everything he gets he deserves. He’s sacrificed a lot. It’s just an honor to coach him. He’s done a lot for Purdue University.”
Context of Smith’s Career and Records
Before Thursday’s game, Smith was averaging 8.7 assists per contest and had previously set the Big Ten career assists record by surpassing Michigan State’s Cassius Winston. The Boilermakers have three games left in the regular season before entering the Big Ten tournament, with Smith now closing in on Duke’s Bobby Hurley’s Division I record of 1,076 assists.
Smith’s Accolades and Future Prospects
The 6-foot senior was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American last year and earned the Bob Cousy Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate point guard. His steady playmaking and leadership have been vital for Purdue this season as he continues to build on an already remarkable college basketball career.
