“Scammers”: Pulitzer Winner Slams Dwyane Wade’s Sculptor, Reveals Real Issue With Artwork

Not just the fans, but former players and current stars of the game have criticized Dwyane Wade’s statue. The long list includes Carmelo Anthony, ‘Inside the NBA’ crew, Draymond Green, Gilbert Aarenas, and several others. But since the unveiling, the Miami Heat legend and his wife have defended any such criticism towards them and the sculptors. But the talk hasn’t died down yet. They now have one other critic on their list, a Pulitzer Prize-winning senior art critic for New York magazine.

Let’s clarify first thing. Jerry Saltz did not know Dwyane Wade or his body of work. So, he was the perfect critic as per Pablo Torre. After seeing the video of the ‘This is my house’ statue, Saltz had more than two cents to say about the piece of art. “That’s true. It doesn’t look anything like him. What I’ll say is that is an absolute sh-t work of art because it looks like a little mini statue on an idiotic store-bought Trophy.”

D-Wade has admitted to having been a part of the whole process, monitoring it closely. After the statue unveiling, Wade released a BTS clip, showcasing his involvement in examining clay models and offering inputs. The sculptors even confirmed that the 3x champion walked out satisfied with the results and only then did they take the next steps. But the failed resemblance has the 73-year-old questioning the whole process.

“There’s nothing to it other than the pose… it has no character, it has no ambiance, it has no internal scale, it has no feel for its material.” Saltz continued, “It found a photograph scanned it most likely, or something, and reproduced it. It’s crap. Yeah, how much did they pay for it $100? $200?”

Saltz has been working as an art critic since 2006. Naturally, his criticism didn’t end there. He even reacted to the video about the sculptors who defended their design. “It looks like art by more than one person with no touch, no hand, only an idea,” via Pablo Torre Finds Out. “They’re not even artists, those two guys. They’re entrepreneurs, they’re scammers, they don’t know it.” Later, he added the word “alleged” before scammers to avoid any lawsuit.

Saltz was talking about Omri Amrany and Oscar León, of the Rotblatt Amrany Studio who created the Dwyane Wade statue. Interestingly, it’s the same studio that has sculpted statues of other NBA greats like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. As someone inspired by the MJ statue, Wade is as happy as he could be and he isn’t paying any heed to the criticisms.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s reaction amid the fiasco

But the family has wholeheartedly approved the creation from the second the criticism started. The Heat legend became the first person in the franchise’s history to receive such an honor. For The Flash, the first ever statue he saw was of the Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan. Being in the same category truly excites him.

“So to be able to be at this point in my life where I know that the same feeling I had when Jordan had his statue is the same feeling that young kids will have coming, getting an opportunity to visit mine, families will have, being able to create memories and moments.” Dwyane Wade was not alone against the critics, his wife too chimed in.

“One thing about @dwyanewade He really isn’t moved or motivated by nan negative. Trust me, I’VE TRIED!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣,” Gabrielle Union captioned the story on her Instagram, and shared the post from the Miami Heat where Dwyane Wade once again mocked the critics. “I care, but I don’t.”

In no way, Jerry Saltz was trying to belittle the Heat legend or his accomplishment. But he expected a lot better, just like the rest of the fans.