Pacers rookie Braden Smith was booed at Iowa State and no one knows why: 'Heard worse than that'

On Wednesday, Pacers rookie Braden Smith faced an unusual introduction to NBA preseason basketball when he made his debut at Iowa State University, where he had made his college debut a season earlier. Haliburton's alma mater, Iowa State, hosted the Pacers for a game attended by Haliburton's former teammates, who filled the student section with free tickets. However, what stood out was the chorus of boos directed at Smith during the second half of the game.

The boos seemingly originated as soon as Smith touched the ball, disappearing when he passed it. When he missed a shot, the hostile crowd transformed into loud cheers. Fans speculated several reasons behind the boos, including the belief that Smith had taken the starting spot intended for Iowa State guard Tamin Lipsey, and a historical grudge between the two schools, which saw Iowa State defeat Purdue, Smith's high school, 81-58 in the previous season.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle humorously acknowledged the confusion, stating that he himself was bewildered by the boos, unaware of the reasons behind them.

Despite the boos, Smith held his composure, finishing the game with three points, five rebounds, and five assists, recording a plus-minus of 11. He remained puzzled about the hostility, acknowledging that the Iowa State crowd was less enthusiastic than the one he experienced at Mackey Arena. Smith emphasized the superiority of the Mackey crowd, claiming it was much more lively and rowdy. He thought the boos were rather amusing, stating, "I've heard worse than that."

Haliburton, who had initially puzzled over the boos, expressed his pride in Smith's performance, vowing to support him through continued development in the G-League, preseason, and the NBA. The boos, while strange, seemed to add to the unique college basketball atmosphere Haliburton desired for the Pacers rookie in his inaugural game.