Dwyane Wade (Image Credit: X/Miami Heat)

On Sunday, the Miami Heat held a special ceremony to unveil a statue of Dwyane Wade outside the Kaseya Center.

This 8-foot bronze effigy, created by artists Omri Amrany and Oscar León of Rotblatt Amrany Studio, is a tribute to Wade’s remarkable career with the Heat, where he played for over a decade.

However, the unveiling quickly garnered mixed reactions, particularly regarding the statue’s likeness to Wade. Many fans and observers felt that the statue did not accurately capture the essence of the basketball legend.

Even Wade himself couldn’t resist poking fun at the statue, commenting on its resemblance.</em

“That’s crazy. I can’t believe that. Who is that guy?” Wade said.

Nevertheless, Wade was thoroughly moved by the Heat’s recognition. The former Heat star expressed his desire to appreciate the moment fully.

“I wanted to feel this.

Life goes by so fast, and it’s very rare that we get to feel things because we’re always off to the next thing.

I wanted to feel this, man.

I wanted to look at it,” he added.

Jeff Darlington Shares Humorous Take on Dwyane Wade’s Statue

Dwyane Wade’s statue outside the Kaseya Center has become a hot topic of conversation. Even ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington couldn’t resist commenting lightly about the statue.

“The Miami Heat should’ve had a contest where they showed this picture to 1,000 fans—and anyone who guesses it’s Dwyane Wade gets to keep the statue,” Darlington wrote on X.

Wade played 15 of his 16 NBA seasons with the Miami Heat from 2003 to 2016 and is widely celebrated for his incredible contributions to the team.

He won three NBA championships in Miami, including two titles alongside superstars LeBron James and Chris Bosh from 2010 to 2014.

After being selected by the Heat in the 2003 NBA Draft, Wade quickly made his mark on the franchise.

He averaged 22.7 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds throughout his tenure in 948 regular-season games.

However, he also had stints with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers; he ultimately retired as a member of the Heat.