After playing in the German basketball league four years ago and going undrafted out of Wheeling University six years ago, Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith has come a long way, both physically and figuratively. As an unrestricted free agent this summer, Highsmith stands to earn the most salary of his NBA career. After the Heat’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs earlier this month, 27-year-old Highsmith said, “It has been a long journey to get here.”
As an unrestricted free agent this summer, Highsmith stands to earn the most salary of his NBA career. After the Heat’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs earlier this month, 27-year-old Highsmith said, “It has been a long journey to get here.”
Following participation in the 100 G League After the Heat’s season ended in the first round of the playoffs earlier this month, 27-year-old Highsmith said, “It has been a long journey to get here.”
One of the Heat’s most recent undrafted success stories, Highsmith spent the 2020–21 season in the German Basketball Bundesliga after participating in 100 G League games. Highsmith had only appeared in five NBA regular-season games prior to initially signing a 10-day contract with the Heat in the middle of the 2021–2022 season.
During the regular season in the last year of his contract, Highsmith shot career-bests from the field (46.5 percent) and three-point range (39.6 percent) for the Heat, and he averaged career-highs in points (6.1 per game), assists (1.1), steals (0.8), blocks (0.5), and minutes (20.7). During the regular season, he also recorded a career-high 26 starts and appeared in 66 games.
This season, Highsmith further solidified his position as one of the Heat’s best defenders when the coaching staff assigned him to guard high-scoring players like DeMar DeRozan, Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Trae Young for prolonged periods of time. Highsmith, who stands 6-foot-5 with a wingspan of seven feet, possesses the length and ability to cover most of the court’s positions.
Highsmith also saw more playing time throughout this season’s playoffs. Highsmith played 25.1 minutes per game during Miami’s brief five-game playoff run, with his involvement increasing due to the Heat’s injury concerns this playoffs.
Regarding the Heat, Highsmith remarked, “If you know anything about my story, I went to a smaller school, came back and found my way to this organization, played overseas, and burst onto the NBA G League team with the 76ers.” “They provided me with a chance. I have spent roughly three years here.
