Over four seasons at Purdue, Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith have forged one of the most successful backcourt partnerships in college basketball. Their on-court chemistry is undeniable, but when the controllers come out, Loyer makes sure his teammate knows exactly who runs the virtual court.
What Did Fletcher Loyer Reveal About His Relationship With Braden Smith?
In a recent interview with The Field of 68, Loyer discussed his dynamic with Smith, mixing playful jabs with high praise for his teammate’s future.
When asked about Smith’s listed 6-foot height, Loyer could not resist a joke. “It depends what shoes he’s got on,” he said. However, Loyer quickly pivoted to a serious endorsement of Smith’s professional prospects. “For being 6 foot, I tell everybody this, he’s going to play in the NBA. He’s going to be a damn good NBA player,” Loyer said. “So he’s focused on winning a national championship, leading this team, and we see him work every day.”
Loyer also praised Smith’s exceptional court vision and passing skills, which have become a hallmark of their partnership. “He knows where I’m at, sometimes where I don’t even think I’ll be open. He’s got so much vision,” Loyer explained. “Some of the passes he makes, it’s incredible. I’m still amazed by it.”
That comfort level allows for brutally honest communication on the floor. “I can yell at him, he can yell at me. And at the end of the day, we know we’re just trying to help each other,” Loyer noted.
When asked what he gives Smith a hard time about, Loyer first pointed to his teammate’s occasional reluctance to take shots. “I rip on him when he stops shooting the ball,” he said.
But the real rivalry happens off the court. “Video games, man. 2K, we play a lot of 2K,” Loyer said with a laugh. “Yeah, he plays more, though, but I’m better.”
How Successful Have Smith and Loyer Been at Purdue?
Smith and Loyer arrived at Purdue as freshmen and were immediately inserted into the starting lineup. Their presence ignited one of the most successful eras in the program’s recent history.
The backcourt duo has powered the Boilermakers to two Big Ten regular-season titles and a conference tournament championship. Their crowning achievement came in 2024 when they helped lead Purdue to the National Championship game, breaking a 55-year drought for the program.
Along the way, both guards reached major personal milestones that often seemed intertwined. They each surpassed 1,000 career points during the 2024-25 season, and later made history against Rutgers by becoming the first Purdue teammates to each hit seven three-pointers in the same game.
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Head coach Matt Painter has watched their partnership evolve from talented newcomers into seasoned leaders. He has called them one of the smartest backcourts he has ever coached, crediting their unique ability to anticipate each other’s moves and cover for any weaknesses.
All that time together on and off the court has built a relationship where nothing is off-limits. Whether he is telling Smith to shoot more or bragging about his own dominance in video games, Loyer keeps the same competitive energy with his longtime teammate.
