On October 27, Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade was immortalized in bronze at the Kaseya Center, a tribute that took fans back to his iconic “This is my house” pose from 2009. The statue, standing tall at 8 feet, captures Wade’s energy from that double-overtime win against the Chicago Bulls. While the tribute stirred excitement among fans, many questioned whether the statue truly captured Wade’s likeness, sparking conversation without diminishing the significance of the moment.

In a video shared by Fox Sports reporter Rachel Nichols, Wade stood in awe of his statue, saying, “This is out of body, y’all,” he remarked, taking in the sight of his bronze likeness. His tone shifted to playful disbelief as he addressed the crowd, “I can’t believe that. Who is that guy?”

The sculptors behind Wade’s statue, Studio Rotblatt Amrany, are well known for immortalizing NBA legends. With over 300 bronze sculptures to their name, the studio’s notable works include statues of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Oscar León and Omri Amrany led the creation of Wade’s statue, while co-founder Julie Rotblatt Amrany collaborated on the Jordan and Bryant statues.

The studio’s breakthrough came with Michael Jordan’s “The Spirit,” a 15-foot statue at the United Center celebrating his first retirement in 1994. Following this, they crafted Kobe Bryant’s 19-foot statue, commemorating his legendary 81-point game in 2006. In August this year, the studio also unveiled a statue of Bryant and his daughter Gigi, adding another meaningful tribute to their portfolio.

Julie Rotblatt Amrany shared that the studio collaborates closely with families to ensure each sculpture meets their vision, sometimes limiting artistic freedom. “They bring their own needs to you, so you as an artist have to acquiesce to what they want,” she explained. This approach has led to well-received statues for icons like Jordan and Bryant.

While D-Wade’s statue has sparked mixed reactions over its likeness, few can deny the honor’s significance. Some fans feel the statue could better resemble Wade, but the tribute stands as a testament to his enduring legacy in Miami and the NBA.

D-Wade himself overviews the sculpture

Despite some fans’ disappointment with the statue’s appearance, Wade was closely involved in the creation process and left satisfied. According to Rachel Nichols, Wade visited the sculptors multiple times to ensure the statue captured his vision, even witnessing the making of Kobe Bryant’s statue alongside his own.

“Wade was very involved with what the statue would look like and visited the sculptor several times,” Nichols noted. Interestingly, Wade got to witness both his and Kobe Bryant’s statues being made at the same place. He reflected on their deeper meaning, seeing the sculptures as symbols of immortality beyond their physical forms.

León, one of the sculptors, backed up the sentiment, saying Wade was pleased with how everything turned out. “He walked away very happy. By that last visit, he had basically seen everything he wanted to see. We made all the adjustments he wanted,” León said, as per 7 News Miami.

The Heat lagend’s excitement over the statue was evident during the unveiling, where he ended his speech with a witty line that summed up his legacy in Miami. “I believe I gave you guys something set in stone to hold onto,” he said, leaving the crowd with a final thought: “This is my house. I’m out.”