The Miami Heat on Monday (Sunday, U.S. time) honored its franchise icon, Dwyane Wade, with a special unveiling of his very own statue just outside the Kaseya Center.
Wade, who memorably led the Heat to their first title in franchise history, played 15 seasons in Miami, where he won two more titles with LeBron James and Chris Bosh. He is one of only six former Heat to have had their numbers retired, joining Udonis Haslem, Chris Bosh, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, and Shaquille O’Neal.
Now, Wade has one-upped them all, becoming the first and so far only Heat player to have a statue.
Wade’s Statue Seems . . . a Bit Odd
While the celebration went by swimmingly and the honor is well-deserved, it seems DWade’s statue looks a little different than the franchise icon it is supposed to symbolize.
Take a look:
Wade himself appeared to be in disbelief as he looked at the statue’s face several times, including one long look at it as he stood face-to-face with his oversized replica. But the man whom Heat team president Pat Riley described as “the greatest player ever in Miami Heat history” seemed to take it all in stride.
In fact, Wade even cracked a joke, asking the crowd, “Who’s that guy?” during his speech.
Nicknamed “The Flash,” Wade was the Heat’s fifth overall pick in the loaded 2003 NBA Draft that also included James and Bosh, who joined Wade in Miami in 2010 as free agents.
Wade is the second franchise icon the Heat have honored this season, following Riley, to whom the Kaseya Center was dedicated in his honor in Miami’s season opener on Thursday. An in-game celebration will also be held for Wade on Tuesday when the Heat host the Detroit Pistons. It will coincide with the 21st anniversary of Wade’s debut as a member of the Heat.
