The Lakers know how to honor their legends. Just a few days ago, the franchise officially announced plans to install a statue paying tribute to Pat Riley. Dwyane Wade, having played under the guidance of the now-Miami Heat President and having had his own statue recently unveiled, couldn’t have been happier. But a little leg-pulling with a few predictions did not escape him. 

On the latest episode of his podcast, Dwyane Wade and co-host Bob were discussing the former’s honor last month when Pat Riley’s news was brought up. The Flash was all in for the announcement. “That was a fire announcement by the way. Shout out to the Lakers. Man you know the Lakers they do things nicely. They do things very nicely and timely. That was a timely announcement,” he asserted.

Pat Riley will join Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Lakers sportscasters Chick Hearn, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, and Kobe Bryant as the Lakers legends whose legacies are honored with statues by the franchise. “Pat is a Lakers icon… The style of basketball Pat and the Lakers created in the 80s is still the blueprint for the organization today: an entertaining and winning team,” Jeanie Buss said in a statement. 

The 79-year-old has been a part of the Miami Heat, first as a coach and then as an executive for 3 decades now, but his roots lie in LA, having played, been a broadcaster, and an assistant coach. Wade recognizes the efforts, majorly for Miami though. “Pat is the one who came and really changed the landscape of Miami Heat,” he notes. So while he would have liked the announcement to have come before his, he is thrilled about the moment. He has even framed an image of the statue in his mind, tugging at his former HC’s consistent style.

“He is going to have that Armani suit. I know his hair going to be wavy…I feel like…his hand going to be like [on the hips], this the jacket going to be a little open, he going to be like looking out to the court, pointing, it’s going to be something, but it’s going to be Pat Riley… this statue going to be cold,” he added.

Wade played under Riley as a coach for about four years but has known for decades more in the executive position. So when he describes the 79-year-old, Wade might as well have perfected it to the T.

Riley had come to be known for his wardrobe and the poise he wore it with. The Armani suit Wade mentions, it was the former HC’s signature right alongside custom tailored dress shirts from Savile Row. The slick back hair he wore as a coach still maintains it’s shape and the placement of the hand isn’t all hard to imagine if you think back to his coaching days. Wade may have faced some jibes to his own statue, but he isn’t letting a chance to tease Riley — who revealed the news of The Flash’s statue — slip, much like his own best friend, Carmelo Anthony threw in a roast for him.

Is Dwyane Wade happy with his statue 

Wade’s bronze statue, crafted by Oscar León of the Rotblatt Amrany Studio, required 800 hours of meticulous work. However, these hours of hard work didn’t prevent fans from criticizing the statue, as many felt the face did not resemble Wade. During the statue unveiling event, the basketball legend appeared happy and satisfied with the work calling it “art at its finest”. More importantly, Wade was closely involved throughout the process.

Defending the franchise, Wade expressed satisfaction. For him, it was the iconic moment of his “This is my house” celebration that held greater significance. The statue commemorates his celebration after his game-winning three-pointer that pushed the Chicago Bulls to double overtime on March 9, 2009.

“If I wanted it to look like me, I’d just stand outside the arena and y’all can take photos. It don’t need to look like me. It’s the artistic version of a moment that happened that we’re trying to cement,” the Miami Heat legend clarified his stance to the critics. He doesn’t seem to have any regrets.

The flurry of memes didn’t spare anyone’s attention. Melo had said Wade “loved the process and forgot the outcome.” Even the sculptors came forward to offer an explanation, urging fans to visit the statue in person. Regardless, the justifications weren’t enough to appease fans and veterans. Unsurprisingly, this debate may resurface when another basketball legend is immortalized.