What was meant to be a monumental celebration for Miami Heat fans and the local community, quickly turned into a heated debate across social media platforms. The unveiling of Dwyane Wade’s statue outside the Kaseya Center on Sunday, commemorating one of the franchise’s greatest players, faced unexpected criticism over its artistic execution. However, the man himself stepped forward to defend the sculptor’s work in a way that only Wade could.

In an Instagram story, Wade shared a side-by-side comparison of his iconic “This is my house” celebration pose from his legendary game-winner against the Chicago Bulls and his newly unveiled statue. The 3x NBA champion pointed out a subtle yet significant detail that most critics had overlooked. “Detailed to the bubble gum in my mouth,” wrote Wade in his story.

What makes the statue particularly special is how it encapsulates multiple layers of Wade’s legacy. According to a post by Nick DePaula on his X, Wade’s statue showcased the shoes that he wore during his final NBA season. The Way of Wade 7 also featured the names of his parents, mom Jolinda, dad Dwyane Sr., and a tribute to his longtime agent Henry Thomas that reads “RIP Hank.”

Even the name on his jersey was changed from ‘El Heat’ to ‘Miami.’ “There’s only a few organizations that have a statue outside. There’s not even 15 players who played this game of basketball that have a statue outside. We have a statue outside. So, for me to be the vessel that’s used, to be the chosen one, I’m proud of it,” said Wade during the unveiling of the statue.

Interestingly, Omri Amrany and Oscar León of Rotblatt Amrany Studio, which is the same studio that has sculpted statues of other NBA greats like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, has sculpted the statue of Dwyane Wade. It was also revealed by the sculptors that it took them around 800 hours to complete the statue. “I don’t know a lot of people with a statue. Do you? Anybody here, you all know anything about the process of a statue? No one out there do neither. And so, it’s an unbelievable process to be a part of. And it’s a complicated process,” added Wade during the unveiling ceremony.

The issue surrounding the statue arises primarily from its apparent lack of similarity to the Miami Heat legend. Basketball enthusiasts and art critics alike have flocked to social media, comparing the statue’s look to a variety of celebrities and fictional figures, none of whom resemble the 3x NBA champion. Some have described it as a cross between former professional boxer George Foreman and Matrix actor Laurence Fishburne.

While social media critics were quick to judge the statue’s overall appearance, Dwyane Wade’s defense serves as a reminder that art, particularly sports monuments, should be appreciated for their comprehensive storytelling rather than just surface-level aesthetics. But it seems like there’s another reason why Wade is going so hard on defending the sculptors.

Dwyane Wade’s contribution to his statue

The critics and the fans are going heavy on the sculptors for making a statue that has no resemblance with the face of the 3x NBA champion. But what if I tell you that Wade was also a part of the making process? Yes, the Miami Heat legend is now trying everything to stop the strong criticisms from the fans.

Wade, just a few hours after the unveiling ceremony, posted two videos on his Instagram Story. In the videos, it was clearly visible that Wade was examining clay models of the statue’s face, offering input, and appearing satisfied with the work in progress. “I was just like, ‘That’s beautiful. I’m biased, but I think it’s one of the best statues that’s been created because of what it represents for us and for me,” said Wade during the ceremony.

However, it is quite understandable, that Wade himself is aware of the disappointment that the statue revelation has given to his fans. So to attract attention towards him, just 24 hours later, the 42-year-old announced the release of the new shoe with Li-Ning, ‘Way of Wade 11 ‘Statue,’ which is a shoe based on the recently released Way of Wade 11 shoe line. Now it can be speculated why Wade is defending his sculptors so much.