Dwyane Wade's statue and Wade speaking on the mic.Dwyane Wade and his statue. (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Former Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade, who spent 15 memorable seasons with the team and led them to three NBA championships, has now been honored in a unique way. The Miami Heat recently unveiled a statue of Wade outside the Kaseya Center. However, the statue has sparked some controversy as critics remarked that the artwork barely resembles the beloved former guard.

The former Heat star has defended the creative direction his former team chose. Speaking at a press conference, he explained that the statue was designed to capture the spirit of his legacy rather than focus on a lifelike resemblance.

“Sitting down with the Miami Heat and myself, what we wanted to do was capture a moment that represented the organization, represented myself, and represented the city. We felt like we captured that moment in an artistic form, in an artistic way,” Wade said.

“If I wanted it to look like me. I would just stand outside the arena, and y’all would take photos. It don’t need to look like me. It’s an artistic version of a moment that happened that we’re trying to cement,” he added.

Bill Simmons Takes A Jab At Dwyane Wade’s Statue

Following the much-anticipated unveiling of Dwyane Wade’s statue outside the Miami Heat’s Kaseya Center, sports commentator Bill Simmons of The Ringer joined fans in critiquing the artwork’s resemblance. Like many, Simmons was less than impressed with the statue, humorously calling it “the worst statue of all time.”

“The biggest loser of the day was Dwyane Wade, who had the worst statue of all time. What did you think it looked like? I actually thought it looked like somebody had emerged from a fire and lived,” Simmons said.

“Can you imagine having a statue look that bad of yourself being unveiled? What would you even say? Thanks? There’s never been a worse sports statue,” he added.

Nevertheless, Wade’s statue, crafted by artists Omri Amrany and Oscar León from Rotblatt Amrany Studio, holds special significance for him. Wade is now the first Miami Heat player to receive such an honor.