The Long Game: How the Pacers are Engineering a Psychological Safety Net for Braden Smith

In the modern NBA, the Summer League is often treated as a definitive verdict on a rookie's ceiling. For Braden Smith, the 5-foot-11 point guard taken No. 38 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, the raw data from his first week in the professional ranks suggested a steep climb. As Sports Illustrated first reported, Smith struggled significantly during his tenure as the primary ball handler, posting a 26.4% field goal percentage and a 29.4% mark from beyond the arc, while averaging 6.8 points, 7.0 assists, and 2.8 turnovers per game.

However, the real story isn't the box score; it's the psychological framework Indiana Pacers General Manager Chad Buchanan is constructing around Smith to prevent premature disillusionment.

**OPINION:** The Pacers are playing a brilliant psychological game here. By proactively framing failure as a prerequisite for growth, they are effectively removing the 'panic' variable that often stunts the development of young guards who feel the need to over-perform immediately to justify their draft position.

Speaking on the *Setting the Pace* podcast, Buchanan revealed that he sat down with Smith to provide a necessary perspective shift. Rather than focusing on the missed shots, Buchanan utilized a 'late bloomer' blueprint, citing specific examples of smaller guards who faced similar early-career hurdles. Sports Illustrated reports that Buchanan pointed to T.J. McConnell, Jalen Brunson, and Jose Alvarado as players who struggled during their own rookie Summer League experiences but eventually found success in the league.

This is a calculated move in talent management. Buchanan explicitly noted that the point guard position is the most difficult role for a rookie to learn in the NBA, particularly when navigating a new system, a new coach, and new teammates. By contextualizing Smith's struggles as a standard part of 'learning the NBA game,' the front office is giving Smith the mental breathing room to focus on the specific developmental markers that actually matter.

Buchanan identified two primary areas for growth: increasing Smith's physicality and boosting his confidence to score more aggressively. Despite the shooting woes, the GM remains optimistic, noting that Smith's ability to generate open looks for teammates remains a core strength of his game.

As Smith moves toward a year of development with the Noblesville Boom, the Pacers' G League affiliate, the organization is betting that patience—and the historical precedent of players like Brunson—will be more valuable than a one-week sample size. By treating the Summer League as a 'jump into the deep end' rather than a final exam, Indiana is ensuring that Smith's mental game evolves at the same pace as his physical one.