Haywood Highsmith didn’t sign with the Phoenix Suns to sit out the rest of the 2025-26 season.
The 6-foot-5 forward looks to return to action after having surgery last August to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee from training in his hometown of Baltimore. He has yet to play a game this season.
“I'm here to play basketball at the end of the day,” Highsmith said Feb. 20. “That's what I want to do. So we'll figure out when that happens and go from there. I'm going to continue to put the work in and control what I can control and just go from there."
Highsmith signed with the Suns as a free agent earlier this month. At the time of his surgery, Highsmith was expected to miss eight-to-10 weeks.
“We're excited to have him,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said Feb. 19. “Right now, he just continues to go through more testing with our group. Similar to everyone else, when they come into our group, we'll have a plan. Get him back out there.”
"Appreciate the Suns giving me an opportunity."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 20, 2026
Haywood Highsmith joined Phoenix as a free agent.
On optimism to play this season as he hasn't played this season following offseason knee surgery: "I'm here to play basketball at the end of the day. That's what I want to do. So… pic.twitter.com/t5sveSLrLL
The Suns (32-24) have 26 more games remaining in the regular season as they begin a four-game homestand Feb. 21 against the Orlando Magic (29-25).
“I appreciate the Suns giving me an opportunity,” Highsmith said. “Got here right after (NBA All-Star break) earlier this week. Met the staff, met everybody. Just getting acquainted, getting acclimated with everybody. Trying to get right to work, do whatever it takes to get back on the court as quickly as possible. Working with the training staff and the coaches and figuring out what the plan is.”
Highsmith last played April 28, 2025, in the first round of the NBA playoffs for the Miami Heat against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ott was an assistant with the Cavs, who swept the Heat. Highsmith scored 17 points in Game 2 of the series, hitting 5-of-6 from 3 in a 121-112 loss for the Heat.
That was the closest game of the series, with Highsmith being a major reason.
Now Ott looks to coach him.
“He wants to play,” Ott added. “Hasn't played all year. We want to get him back out there, but we want him to be right.”
The 29-year-old Highsmith can guard multiple positions. He brings strength, physicality, offensive rebounding and the ability to knock down corner 3s to Phoenix.
Jordan Ott on Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) possibly playing this season: "We're excited to have him. Right now he just continues to go through more testing with our group. Similar to everyone else, when they come into our group, we'll have a plan. Get him back… pic.twitter.com/lhsGWU8ufK
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 20, 2026
“That fits right in with me,” said Highsmith, a career 37.4% 3-point shooter. “Just guarding the ball, picking up full court, being tough, making it difficult and just being that tough, gritty defender and making it hard for opposing teams.”
Highsmith earned the nickname “Locksmith” for his defensive prowess from his four seasons with Miami (2021-25).
“They kind of brought it out of me,” Highsmith said. “They also got my body right. When I first got into the NBA with (Philadelphia 76ers) and G League and all that, my body wasn't fully how it should be.”
Undrafted, Highsmith played college ball at Wheeling University, an NCAA Division II school in West Virginia.
“The Heat got me in great shape, gave me the tools as far as the schemes and going a lot of reps in games, playoffs,” Highsmith later said. “That got me more comfortable as well. The Heat really pushed it out of me and from there, I just kind of took over it, owned it and I love it.”
Highsmith has been doing individual workouts with the Suns staff and testing the knee.
“Doing a lot of strength tests,” Highsmith said. “Movement, change direction. I don't think it's really been challenged. Just trying to get the hang of it. Get back into it. I haven't done some of these movements in a minute. It's getting better each rep, each time I'm doing it. Just trying to get more comfortable with it.”
Suns forward Haywood Highsmith on time with Miami Heat: "The first really NBA team to give me an opportunity. I learned a lot there defensively, work wise, how to approach every day, to be a pro."
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 20, 2026
On testing the knee: "Doing a lot of strength tests. Movement, change direction.… pic.twitter.com/v2kadb2K23
Highsmith passed one major mental and physical test with a dunk in a morning workout before the Suns played the San Antonio Spurs in Austin.
“I had a couple (of dunks),” Highsmith said. “It feels good to be able to dunk again. Coming off a knee injury and have that mental confidence. It's always the aspect of coming off an injury the mental side and the physical side. Getting back to dunking is great for my mental and overall, I'm just blessed to be able to dunk again.”
Highsmith underwent surgery after averaging a career-high 6.5 points in 74 games (42 starts) in his fourth and final season with the Heat in 2024-25.
Miami traded Highsmith to the Brooklyn Nets, who later waived him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Highsmith didn’t play a single game for the Nets, who are in full rebuilding mode.
He’s looking to return to the court in Phoenix as he’s joined a team that’s seventh in the West and is competing for a playoff spot.
“The journey I’ve had has been up and down,” Highsmith said. “I’ve just stayed with it, try to work my hardest, control what I can control and God has blessed me to play in the NBA however many years I’ve been here.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Haywood Highsmith looks to return from surgery this season