Free agent Haywood Highsmith: 'If all things are close, I definitely would love to stay in Miami' (2024)

Haywood Highsmith: I’d describe it as a whirlwind, for sure, and a long journey. Coming out of college, I didn’t have a lot of NBA interest. It was hard for me to get my name and foot in the door. The 76ers gave me an opportunity with their Summer League team. I made a good impression on them, so I made their G League team. From there, I had my foot in the door, and I’ve been a guy NBA teams look at more nowadays.

I played overseas in Germany and was about to play overseas again in Italy, but I came back and bet on myself. It’s been a lot of ups and downs. Obviously, it’s been a roller coaster, but I wouldn’t change anything about my journey. The ups have made me who I am, and the downs have made me who I am. I’m glad and blessed to be able to play basketball for a living.

HH: It’s an interesting story. I was trying to get a training camp deal and an Exhibit-10 deal after coming back from Germany. It was tough at first, and I didn’t have a lot of interest. A team in Italy offered me a great role on their team and a good amount of money. I was going to go there, but me and my agent (Jerry Dianis) put a clause in the contract that in case I got an NBA training camp or Exhibit-10 deal, I could get out of the Italy deal. I went to Italy for a second, and while I was over there, my agent was in contact with me and told me that the 76ers were going to offer a training camp deal, and we were debating whether I should take it or stay in Italy. I was going to make more money if I stayed in Italy right away versus taking a training camp deal.

Me and my agent bet on ourselves and felt like we had an opportunity to get back in the NBA. We took that route, got the Exhibit-10 with the 76ers, and got on their G League team again. From there, I had a great year, my agent was in contact with a few teams, and during the time COVID cases were going crazy, my agent contacted the Heat, and they were interested in me and signed to a 10-day contract. I made a good impression, and signed me to another 10-day.

An organization like the Heat is the perfect organization for me because they’re known for putting players in their developmental system, getting the best out of them, and putting them in the right situations.

When I was on my 10-day contracts with the Heat, I was in the gym during the All-Star break. My 10-day was still going on during the All-Star break. I was making a good impression by showing them how much of a hard worker I am by being in the gym on off days and doing extra work. Eventually, they offered me a standard contract, so all that work paid off. That was my goal to get a standard deal. It was a crazy way to get back in the league, but I made a promise to myself that once I got back in, I’m not leaving. I’m here to say.

HH: It’s been all about winning championships. That’s the top priority. They’re a team that’s always going to try to compete for a championship each year. You never hear anything about them tanking or none of that stuff. It feels like a family there. They’re going to tell you how it is. They’re not going to sugarcoat it. It’s a place that’s not for everybody, for sure. A lot of people can’t stick out there if they go there because they’re not mentally and physically strong enough. They’re going to push you for sure because they’re trying to get the best out of you and win a championship. Heat culture is real. I’ve been blessed to be a part of that for the past three years.

HH: He’s one of the best coaches in the NBA, for sure. When I was younger, I watched the Heat when they had the big three with Dwyane Wade, and Spo was a part of that team. To have a Hall of Fame and championship-winning coach is a great honor. He has a great basketball mind. He’s been doing this for a long time, so he’s seen everything. He knows how to get the best out of his players. He knows that for me, he needs to be on me about defense, and my offense will come to me. He pushed me to great limits, and he’s gotten the best out of me. He’s a great motivator. He’s always eager to find ways to win. He put me in the best position so I can be the best player. He’s an all-around intelligent coach and a smart guy who’s a real competitor.

HH: They’re all about winning championships. This year, we didn’t reach our goal comparing this season to years before, where we’ve made deep playoff runs. Two years ago, we were a shot away from the NBA Finals. Last year, we were in the NBA Finals. Losing in the first round isn’t something I’m accustomed to since being here. It’s tough now to watch playoff basketball and be sitting at home because you want to be a part of high-end, intense basketball.

It was a rough season for us. It was a long season of ups and downs. It wasn’t our goal to be in the Play-In Tournament, make the playoffs, and lose in the first round. We’ll have to use that as fuel for the years to come and figure out how we can maximize more out of the regular season and take that to the playoffs.

HH: I just wanted to prove that I’m a player who can play in this league for years to come. I’m an elite defender. I work on my game a lot. You can see that I’ve put in a lot of work. My 3-point percentage went up, and I had career-highs in points per game and shooting percentage. I feel like with my role in this league, I can be an elite 3-and-D player. But I’m not just limiting myself to that. I can also get to the cup, a floater, and different types of finishes, working the baseline with cuts while playing off the ball.

Back to the 3-point shooting, I was at 40 percent. I proved I could defend and space the floor at a high level while playing off superstars like Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. I was trying to prove that I belong and can add value to teams in different ways with my defense, shooting, and whatever the team needs from me. I’m not a guy who’s going to put myself before the team. It’s all about winning.

HH: A lot of work. Two-a-days, three-a-days, early mornings, late nights, repetition, confidence, and staying in the gym locked in. A lot of people don’t know how much work we put in during the offseason and during the season, like coming in after practice and doing a late night or early the next morning. The work is showing, and that was a good improvement from last year.

HH: I definitely want to be an All-Defensive player in this league and maybe try to go for Defensive Player of the Year. I definitely want to be on a team competing for championships. It’s all about winning for me. I’m a very humble individual. I don’t have an ego. As long as we’re winning and I’m contributing, it’s cool with me. I definitely want to be on the All-Defensive Team or a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. I think I have the ability to do something like that.

HH: It’s an interesting nickname. They call me that because I play great defense and lock guys up. I guard guys and make it tough for them to score. When I first saw it, I thought it was cool to have a nickname because I never really had one. I like it a lot. I even put it on my Twitter and Instagram bio. I’m taking it and running with it from there. It shows that people are seeing how creative of a defensive player I am.

HH: I have a 7-foot-plus wingspan with long arms and can get deflections and steals. I make plays, and I’m active on defense with my hands and arms, my effort, strength, and versatility. I guard a lot of different players, one through four, and maybe five, depending on how big the five is. I don’t get discouraged if a guy scores on me, and I’m not afraid to be on an island and guard up to make a dude feel uncomfortable. I understand the game on the defensive end with what coverages we’re in and where I need to be on the floor. There are a lot of different things that make a good defender. I think I have the tools to keep improving on that and try to be on an All-Defensive Team.

HH: I find defense to be very fun. There are a lot of guys who make it a competitive type of thing. Kyrie Irving is tough to guard. You’ve got to understand he’s going to make some tough shots. He always has me on my toes, and I need to be locked in for him. I’d say Shai Gilgeous-Alexander too. He’s another guard who can get to the paint at will and isn’t going to stop with his relentless attacking. Jayson Tatum. We’ve played the Celtics a lot. That rivalry there speaks for itself. I’d also say KD (Kevin Durant). I grew up a bit of a KD fan, so guarding him now is pretty cool.

HH: Humbly, I’m grateful to be in a position like this. It doesn’t matter how much I make if it’s $10 or $15 million per year. I’ll push myself to be the hardest worker on the team, continue to get better, be a contributor by guarding the best player, knock down shots, do what it takes to win, stay in my role, and help win championships. I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, and nothing’s going to change as far as whatever I get paid. I’ll still be a hard worker, get in the gym early, and put that extra work in to help the team win games and a championship.

I’d love to stay in Miami for sure. I feel like I’ve built a great life out here. My daughter lives out here as well. If all things are close, I definitely would love to stay in Miami, but we’ll see when that time comes. I’ll still be the same person no matter how much I get paid or whatever happens. I’ll still be in the gym locked in and trying to win a championship.

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