BREAKING: Heat’s forward involved in car accident after win over Magic
Highsmith participated in 37 matches this season, starting 24 of them.
After the Miami Heat’s victory against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, forward Haywood Highsmith was in a car accident, as confirmed in a statement from the team sent to ClutchPoints. He was declared unavailable as of the 1:30 p.m. (EST) NBA injury report on Wednesday before the game against the San Antonio Spurs. The reason cited for his absence was labeled as “personal reasons.”
Haywood Highsmith was involved in a car accident coming back from last night's game. He is out for tonight's game as announced earlier.
Part of #Heat's statement: "Our hearts go out to those who were injured. We will have no further comment at this time."
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) February 7, 2024
According to a Heat spokesperson speaking to ClutchPoints, Highsmith was reported to be fine after the accident, although there were other individuals injured whose injuries’ severity has not been disclosed. Approximately two and a half hours before tip-off at 5:00 p.m., the Heat issued a statement confirming Highsmith’s involvement in the car accident. In their statement, the organization expressed condolences to those who were hurt.
“We have been informed that Highsmith was in a car accident on his way home from last night’s game,” the team stated in the announcement. “Highsmith is marked as unavailable for tonight’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs due to Personal Reasons. Our thoughts are with those who were injured. We will not provide any further comments at this moment.”
Highsmith secured his spot in the team during the previous season
There are no additional details provided regarding the accident or Highsmith other than his absence for Wednesday’s game. He initially garnered attention during the remarkable playoff run last season, demonstrating himself to be a dependable rotational player. Securing a spot in the Heat’s lineup this season, he has proven to be a strong defensive player and has shown improvement in his three-point shooting, despite the numbers not standing out prominently.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra praised Highsmith’s performance in January, mentioning how well he “fits into a role.” Throughout the season, Spoelstra has consistently commended Highsmith, even having him start in 24 games.
“Highsmith has been consistently reliable whenever he’s been able to play, and you can see why; he seamlessly fits into a specific role. When you talk about a role player, some may misconstrue the term. You need players who fully embrace their roles and can complement your key players, which he does admirably both defensively and offensively,” Spoelstra remarked. “His capability to space the floor has improved, along with his understanding of when to cut and move off the ball. His confidence has notably grown over the past two years. It’s great to have him back in the lineup.”
Asked Miami Heat HC Erik Spoelstra about Haywood Highsmith, his career-night, and how he has overcame his tumultuous season.
“He fits into a role, when you say a role player, some people look at it the wrong way. You need guys that absolutely embrace a role…” #HEATCulture pic.twitter.com/WuCPQCm8oK
— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) January 12, 2024
