Dwyane Wade Defends New Statue Amid Online Jokes

Photo: Dwyane Wade (Instagram)

A new statue honoring Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade has sparked some strong reactions, with fans and social media users poking fun at its likeness. The statue, which was revealed by the Heat on Sunday, celebrates Wade’s famous "This is my house" moment after a game-winning shot in 2009. The piece, though, doesn’t perfectly capture his face, and many have joked about its appearance online.

Wade defended the statue on Monday, explaining that it’s not supposed to look exactly like him. "If I wanted it to look like me, I'd just stand outside the arena and y'all can take photos," Wade said. Instead, he said, the statue is meant to capture the feeling of that iconic moment.

The statue shows Wade standing with his hands raised, recalling the celebration after he sank a buzzer-beater against the Chicago Bulls in double overtime. Despite the feedback, Wade encouraged people to come see the statue, take photos, and even share memes. "We don’t care," he said, noting that he values the meaning behind the statue more than its exact likeness.

Photo: Dwyane Wade (Instagram)

During a halftime ceremony at Monday’s game against Detroit, Wade told fans that the statue was for them. "This is our house," he said, adding that the artwork represents both the Miami Heat and its fans. He’s the first Heat player to have a statue, something Wade said makes him proud.

Creating the statue was no small feat—it took about 800 hours of work, and Wade was involved throughout the process. He praised the sculptors’ efforts, saying, "It’s a complicated process." Wade noted that few athletes ever receive such a tribute, making the statue even more special to him and the team.


Though Wade joked about the memes, he said it was unfortunate that the artists had to face criticism. The statue was created by Studio Rotblatt Amrany, an art studio based in the Chicago area. Wade sympathized with them, drawing a comparison to his own career: "People talked about me a lot, but they couldn't do what I do." Source: ESPN


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