Purdue's Braden Smith breaks Bobby Hurley's Division I career assist record in NCAA tourney opener

The All-American guard is the only player in NCAA history with at least 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 career rebounds.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:18am

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Purdue guard Braden Smith broke former Duke star Bobby Hurley's Division I assist record, picking up his 1,077th career assist with 12:11 to go in the first half of the Boilermakers' NCAA Tournament game against Queens on Friday night. Smith, an All-American, is one of only two players in NCAA history with at least 300 assists in two different seasons.

Why it matters

Smith's record-breaking performance highlights his exceptional passing ability and playmaking skills, which have been instrumental in Purdue's success over the past few seasons. As the Boilermakers continue their NCAA Tournament run, Smith's record-breaking achievement adds to the excitement and drama of March Madness.

The details

Smith picked up his first assist of the game a couple of minutes into the contest, but it took a few more minutes for him to break Hurley's record. He finally did so with a feed to Trey Kaufman-Renn, briefly sticking a finger in the air as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

  • Braden Smith broke the record with 12:11 to go in the first half of Purdue's NCAA Tournament game against Queens on Friday, March 21, 2026.
  • Smith set the Big Ten Tournament assists record last weekend while helping Purdue beat Michigan for the championship.

The players

Braden Smith

Purdue guard and All-American who is the only player in NCAA history with at least 1,500 points, 1,000 assists and 500 career rebounds.

Bobby Hurley

Former Duke star whose Division I career assist record was broken by Braden Smith.

Matt Painter

Purdue's head coach, who praised Smith's passing ability and hard work in breaking the record.

Trey Kaufman-Renn

Purdue player who received the record-breaking assist from Braden Smith.

Fletcher Loyer

Purdue player who missed a wide-open 3-pointer that would have given Smith the record earlier in the game.

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What they’re saying

“It is surreal. Happy for him. Really happy for him. He has worked really hard. He's an unbelievable passer, man. He makes the game look easy at times.”

— Matt Painter, Purdue head coach

What’s next

Purdue will continue its NCAA Tournament run, with Braden Smith looking to lead the Boilermakers to their first national championship.

The takeaway

Braden Smith's record-breaking performance cements his legacy as one of the greatest passers in Division I basketball history, and his continued excellence has been a key factor in Purdue's sustained success over the past few seasons.