Purdue Boilermakers guard Braden Smith (3) reacts Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Purdue's Braden Smith Finalist For NIL Store's Highest Earning Male Athlete

Originally posted on Purdue Boilermakers on SI
By Dustin Schutte | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 12:07 PM ET

Purdue guard Braden Smith is one of the most popular male athletes at the NIL Store. The rising senior was one of five finalists for the company's Highest Earning Male Athlete award for 2025.

Smith is a finalist, along with two other men's basketball players, Cooper Flagg (Duke) and Dylan Harper (Rutgers), and two football players, Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) and Cam Skattebo (Arizona State).

The Purdue star enjoyed a phenomenal junior season in West Lafayette. He averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game last season. The Boilermakers finished the year with a 24-12 record and earned a trip to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

VOTE FOR BRADEN!

Braden Smith is a finalist for @nil_store Top-Earning Male Athlete of the Year.

You can vote for him here:
️: https://t.co/AHSernsKXU pic.twitter.com/0spBwM8Zwt
— Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 23, 2025

Smith has also joined Purdue's 1,000-point club and exceeded 500 career rebounds. He currently sits at 758 career assists, setting a new program record.

Smith was rewarded with plenty of accolades at the end of his junior season. He was the Big Ten Player of the Year and named the winner of the Bob Cousy Award, presented to the best point guard in college basketball. He was a finalist for National Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Big Ten and All-American honors.

Now, Smith has a chance to be the Highest Earning Male Athlete of 2025 at the NIL Store.

This article first appeared on Purdue Boilermakers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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