Former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade began his legendary career when he was selected fifth in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Heat. As the highest-ranked player from Marquette University to be picked in the first round, Wade quickly became a key figure in Miami, leading the team to three NBA championships over his time with the Heat from 2003 to 2016.
However, he retired from the NBA in 2019, the Miami Heat wanted to honor Wade’s impressive 16-season career. This past Sunday, they unveiled an 8-foot bronze statue of Wade himself, located just outside the entrance of the Kaseya Center.
The statue was crafted by Rotblatt Amrany Studio artists Omri Amrany and Oscar León and is accompanied by a wall that lists Wade’s numerous career accomplishments.
This statue holds special significance, as Wade is now the first Miami Heat player to have a statue outside the team’s arena. Wade, the player popular for nail paintings, was clearly moved by the tribute. Nevertheless, he also had a bit of fun with it, jokingly commenting on the sculpture’s likeness.
“That’s crazy. I can’t believe that. Who is that guy?” Wade said.
NBA Fans React To Dwyane Wade’s Statue
After the Miami Heat unveiled a statue in honor of Dwyane Wade, NBA fans were quick to share their mixed reactions. Instead of unanimous admiration, the statue sparked a wave of criticism from fans. Many fans were disappointed with its appearance.
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Some fans voiced their frustration with the statue’s design, questioning how well it resembled Wade. But many felt that the facial details and overall likeness didn’t capture Wade’s true appearance.
Others went further, calling the statue a humiliation for Wade. They expressed concern that it didn’t honor him in the way he deserves.
The unveiling is surely a proud moment for the Heat. However, the fans didn’t expect that, as they had strong opinions about how their icons should be commemorated.
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