The Miami Heat celebrated Dwyane Wade, one of their greatest players, with a statue outside Kaseya Center on Sunday. Announced eight months ago, the tribute honors Wade’s 16 seasons with the team, solidifying his legendary status. Drafted fifth overall in 2003, Wade led the Heat to three championships and earned 13 All-Star titles, becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer.
The statue captures Wade’s 2009 game-winning shot against the Chicago Bulls. After making the shot, he jumped onto the scorer’s table, declaring, “This is my house!”. Surrounded by family, longtime teammate Udonis Haslem, and Heat president Pat Riley, Wade reflected on his legacy, describing it as an ongoing journey toward a meaningful goal. He expressed deep gratitude to the Heat organization, his teammates, and fans for making this moment possible.
Dwyane Wade’s Reaction to His Statue Fallout on the Social Media
However, the unveiling sparked a range of reactions on social media, from admiration to amusement over the statue’s resemblance to Wade. Some fans questioned the accuracy of the statue’s likeness, drawing comparisons that Wade found humorous.
“Yeah, I have an iPhone… Social media world is about opinions… Send some memes. We don’t care. It was a special moment yesterday,”
Wade took the comments in stride from the social media during the Heat vs. Pistons pregame conference on Monday. The Heat legend emphasized that the purpose of the statue wasn’t to capture his exact likeness. Instead, he believes the statue symbolize a defining moment in his career and the franchise’s history.
“If I wanted it to look like me, I would just stand outside the arena, y’all would take photos,” he explained. “It don’t need to look like me. It’s an artistic version of a moment that happened.”
Wade also joked about the statue resembling actor Laurence Fishburne, saying,
“I saw some memes today that I was like, ‘Yeah, it kind of got a little Laurence Fishburne lower jaw line.’”
Wade then added with a smile, "I appreciate all the comments that everyone has about it, because I'm in on the joke, guys. Like I laugh all the time. Like I'm cool. I saw some memes today that I was like, 'Yeah, it kind of got a little Laurence Fishburne lower jaw line.' " https://t.co/W13CqMr3Mb
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) October 28, 2024
Wade’s Legacy Beyond the Statue In Miami
Wade, now part-owner of the Utah Jazz, is the first Heat player to be immortalized in statue form. Riley, who praised Wade as “the greatest player ever in Miami Heat history,” reiterated how Wade’s commitment to “Heat culture” has left a long-lasting mark on the franchise and the city of Miami. Wade’s reaction, combining humility with humor, reflects his approachable personality and connection with fans.
Beyond the statue, Wade’s legacy is cemented by his unparalleled influence on the team and the city. Wade described his legacy as an aspiration toward an ideal, emphasizing to fans that his impact goes beyond any physical tribute. Wade concluded his reflection with gratitude, looking forward to sharing more moments with Miami fans as his journey continues.
The 42-year-old Wade hold many of Miami’s team records. The three-time NBA champion won a scoring championship in 2008-09 and totaled 21,556 points while donning a Heat jersey. Wade was named NBA Finals MVP of the Heat’s first ever championship in 2006. Altogether, in his 948 regular season games with Miami, Wade posted averages of 22.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.6 steals
