Photo From Purdue Basketball Practice Shows Braden Smith Getting Major Ups
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Over the last three seasons, we've seen Braden Smith do everything imaginable on a basketball court. Well, almost everything. The one thing the Purdue guard hasn't done during his time in West Lafayette is throw down a dunk. Is that something we could see during the 2025-26 season?
Smith certainly has the ability to throw it down, though it's obviously not his greatest strength. In a recent photograph shared by Purdue basketball's Instagram account (@boilerball), you can see the 6-foot guard hammering down a two-handed jam.
It leaves all of us — media included — wanting to see Smith rattle the rim at least once during his senior season with the Boilermakers.
This isn't the first time we've seen Smith show off his hops. A video circulated on social media shortly after Purdue's Sweet 16 loss to Houston of Smith and former Purdue forward Camden Heide hooping it up with some students at an open gym.
Smith powered down a one-handed slam that got everyone talking.
🚨WOW:
— BoilerMuse (@BoilerMuse) March 31, 2025
Braden Smith was spotted hooping at Purdue’s Corec against students 👀
He was NOT going easy 🤣🔥🚂 pic.twitter.com/T2kSz40UMl
Dunking is certainly nothing new to the star guard. He's had the ability to get the rim since his high school games, when he was on the receiving end of alley-oops, not just the one throwing them.
Never forget this incredible jam from back when he played at Westfield, showing off insane athleticism to throw down an alley-oop while fighting off a defender.
Check out this insane dunk by Purdue commit Braden Smith! @rocksathletics pic.twitter.com/qr5A4SquiN
— Evan Cummings (@evancummings05) January 5, 2022
Smith has also dunked plenty of times during pre-game warmups and in practice. Will we finally see it in a game this year?
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Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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