- Miami Heat unveiled statue of the three-time NBA Champion and were met with widespread ridicule
- Wade has seen the funny side of the statue unveiling
- Miami legend described what actor the statue actually looks like
Dwyane Wade is seeing the funny side of his new statue unveiling at Miami Heat’s Kaseya Center.
The Heat revealed the new statue, dedicated to their Hall of Fame shooting guard, on Sunday (October 27) and were immediately met with ruthless, stinging criticism of a statue that bore absolutely no likeness to Wade whatsoever.
The eight foot bronze sculpture pays tribute to Wade’s immortal “this is my house” pose in March 2009, following a double overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls.and, while Miami’s heart was certainly in the right place with the gesture to honour their legendary number three, the execution of the plan left a lot to be desired.
Naturally, the memes came thick and fast upon the statue being shared with the public, which was unveiled in a ceremony 21 years to the day since Wade made his debut for the Heat. The shooting guard would go onto lead Miami to three NBA Championships (including four consecutive finals appearances) while becoming the Heat’s all-time leader in points, games played, assists, steals, shots made, and shots taken. The Chicago native was named as an All-Star 13 times across his remarkable 16 year career.
But while the internet howled with laughter at the sight of Wade’s not-so-likeness, the man himself also saw the funny side.
When asked about if he had seen the reactions on social media, Wade replied, “Yeah, I have an iPhone. Social media world is about opinions. Send some memes. We don’t care. It was a special moment yesterday, my family and I … It don’t need to look like me. It’s an artistic version of me.”
A pretty perfect response, I think you’d agree? Wade would then go one better, when Heat reporter Will Manso shared that the 42-year-old had laughed about the jawline making him look like legendary actor Laurence Fishburne. Which is a huge win for Dwyane Wade, if you ask me. Go watch King Of New York, Boyz N The Hood, Bad Company or Deep Cover and tell me that’s NOT a guy you want to look like. Can’t do it, can you? He’s immaculate.
Wade received a hero’s welcome in Miami ahead of the Heat’s 106-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Before the unveiling, Wade and his family, wife Gabrielle Union and children Zaire,22, Zaya, 17, and Kaavia, 15 were all present for an emotional ceremony honoring the 2006 finals MVP’s extraordinary legacy, both in Miami and the NBA as a whole. Inside the Kaseya Center, Wade was interviewed on court and could barely finish his sentences due to the rapturous reception of the home crowd.
In defence of the statue, sculpture artist Omri Amrany said, “I couldn’t do better than that. I don’t think anybody else can do better than that. It is what it is, and we will love it forever.”
Whatever the reaction, whoever the statue actually looks like, Dwyane Wade getting his flowers is always great to see and, let’s face it, THAT Cristiano Ronaldo bust is forever going to remain the most absymal statue ever dedicated to a professional athlete.
