Indiana Pacers rookie point guard Braden Smith has already made one major call about his next chapter: he is staying on the NBA track.
Smith, who remains unsigned by Indiana, had a possible path back to Purdue after an injunction opened the door for class of 2022 players to pursue a fifth year of college eligibility. But according to CBS Sports, that option is off the table.
“Former Purdue All-American Braden Smith is not considering a return to college basketball in the fallout of Friday's injunction that cleared a path for a fifth year of collegiate eligibility for the Class of 2022, his representatives at Priority Sports told CBS Sports,” the report stated.
That leaves Smith focused on carving out his place with the Pacers, who still have time to sort out his contract situation. The expectation is that Indiana will try to keep him in the organization.
The Pacers made Smith their target in the 2026 NBA Draft after working a deal with the Chicago Bulls to land the No. 38 pick. Indiana entered the draft without a selection, then moved to get Smith by sending out 2025 second-round pick Kam Jones, two second-round pick swaps, and cash considerations.
Smith arrives in the league with a college résumé that turned plenty of heads. Over four seasons at Purdue, he built a reputation as one of the top point guards in the country and emerged as a high-level playmaker, especially over his final three years.
He left college as the NCAA all-time leader in assists for Division I players. His career numbers at Purdue were 13 points, 7.4 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game, with shooting splits of 43.6 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three.
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Multiple extensions are coming due, and the choices the front office makes on one player could ripple into the next decision. Indiana also has to weigh the cost of keeping its core intact against the need to preserve flexibility, which is why a player as useful as Nembhard is suddenly part of a much bigger conversation than just on-court fit. Even with his importance clear, the Pacers may not be able to keep every piece they want. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Took A Chance On Braden Smith As A Bigger Question Looms
A recent court ruling is changing the college basketball landscape again, extending eligibility from four years to five and opening another lane for players who want to stay in school longer. Braden Smith, who led the NCAA in assists, decided not to take that route. Instead, he chose to move on to a professional career with the Pacers, a decision that says plenty about how Indianapolis is weighing talent in a moment when the rules around player development keep shifting.
For the Pacers, Smith is part of a larger question about what the next draft classes might look like if more players decide to cash in on an extra college season. The evolving system could alter when elite guards enter the NBA, and it may change which prospects are available when teams like Indiana are on the clock. Smith made his choice. The bigger uncertainty is how many others will follow the same path, and what that means for the leagues talent pool. [Read more 🡒]