Nets Dealt Setback As NBA Opening Night Nears

NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 23: Haywood Highsmith #7 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks to the media during Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 23, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)

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The Brooklyn Nets will start the upcoming NBA campaign without veteran forward Haywood Highsmith. Unfortunately, he will miss a significant amount of time due to injury.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that the six-foot-five wing “recently experienced right knee swelling during his rehab from an August meniscectomy procedure.”

The swelling in his knee means modifying his rehab program as he works his way back to the court. Highsmith’s new timetable to return to the lineup carries an expectation that he will get re-evaluated in eight weeks. Keep in mind that doesn’t mean he will be playing at that juncture.

Why the Nets are holding onto Haywood Highsmith

While Kobe Bufkin, the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, got waived by the Nets on Sunday, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, they are keeping Highsmith. Scotto cites that being a result of the leadership demonstrated by the five-year veteran while helping a roster that skews young.

As Brooklyn rebuilds, the franchise made five first-round selections in this year’s NBA Draft. They walked away from night one with Egor Demin, who they chose eighth overall from BYU. Eleven picks later, they took Nolan Traore, a promising guard from France.

They then swung a deal with the Atlanta Hawks for the 22nd overall selection. That positioned them to add Drake Powell from the University of North Carolina. Brooklyn remained on the clock with picks 26 and 27, taking Ben Saraf, a six-foot-six combo guard, and Danny Wolf, who starred at Michigan and can play the four and the five spots.

Having a veteran leader like Highsmith to help guide this group is paramount. Some understandably roll their eyes when they hear the phrase “Heat culture.” However, the fact that he joined the Nets after five years in an infrastructure like Miami’s provided him with lessons that he appears to be already passing on to Brooklyn’s youthful roster.

The benefits from that are helping foster the growth of a group that includes an unusually high number of rookies, in the infancy of their NBA development. It was also at the heart of Haywood Highsmith retaining his roster spot with the Nets.