You can’t celebrate Dwyane Wade without an O’Neal in the mix, but this time, it wasn’t the one fans might expect. Taahirah O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal’s eldest daughter, stepped in to represent the family at Wade’s pre-celebration event of the “Statues Are Forever” weekend at the Queen Miami Beach. The honorary niece of D-Wade joined the festivities before one of the biggest nights in her “unc’s” life. As Wade geared up for the grand moment, her father Shaq, Wade’s former teammate, was noticeably absent, leaving fans wondering why the Big Diesel missed the big night.

As the night carried on, Taahirah took to the Instagram story to share her experience, posting videos and photos of herself soaking in the lively atmosphere. Among her posts was a shout-out to DJ Vladimir Scott, aka DJ LOUI VEE, who was setting the vibe. “The L in @louiveemydj stands for LOUD,” she wrote, as D-Wade danced along in the background, clearly enjoying the beats.

Though Shaq didn’t make it to the party, Wade wasn’t short on star power. Miami Heat icon Udonis Haslem was right there, alongside DJ Khaled, bringing their own heat to the event. Wade’s close circle of friends, including Jon Marcus from Wade’s production company, trainer David Alexander, and digital creator Michael Guerrero, made sure the night was unforgettable, filling in the gaps left by Shaq’s absence.

Wade arrived in style in a sleek Aston Martin DBX707, channeling James Bond, with Union on his arm. The couple turned heads in custom black-tie looks by FWRD, perfectly setting the tone for the glitzy evening. The swanky venue was transformed into a Bond-worthy hideout with “003” themed cocktails and decor nodding to Wade’s iconic Heat jersey. As the man of the hour took center stage, the unmistakable Bond theme song began to play in the background.

With a glass of champagne raised high, Wade said, toasting, “This is the beginning of a ‘statues are forever’ weekend. What we’re about to embark on is something we’ve never experienced before. If you’ve got a glass, raise it.”

In a heartwarming twist, Wade took the celebration to another level when he hit the dance floor with his daughter, Kaavia, affectionately known as ‘Shady Baby’. Sharing the moment with fans on Instagram, Wade and Kaavia twinned in sharp white outfits—Wade in a suit and Kaavia in an adorable princess dress. Their dance became an instant crowd favorite, capturing hearts both at the event and online. To cheer for him, there were Wade’s older children Zaire, 22, Zaya, 17, and his nephew Dahveon Morris, 21.

“I’ve been trying to think about it ever since I heard that I would have a statue and I don’t think any answer I come up with is going to reflect how I will feel. I don’t even know if it’s going to hit me right away,” Wade told the Miami Herald days back. Notably, it is not the first occasion when Shaq’s daughter was present in an event featuring Wade.

On January 14, Taahirah was present in the Heat’s special match against the Charlotte Hornet, arranged to celebrate Wade’s Naismith Hall of Fame induction in August 2023. Taahirah had posted a series of Instagram Stories, with commemorative Hall of Fame night displays for Wade. “Celebrating Unc today and everyday,” she wrote. Incidentally, Shaq was absent on that occasion as well.

Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal’s relationship began during their legendary 2006 championship run with the Miami Heat, a moment Wade still calls one of the greatest of his career. That playoff journey not only solidified Wade as a superstar but also marked the start of his close bond with the Big Diesel. Their chemistry became undeniable on and off the court.

After his dramatic departure from the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaq joined Miami in 2004, ready for a fresh start. At 32, coming off a tough loss in the NBA Finals and dealing with the fallout from his feud with Kobe Bryant, Shaq was eager to step into a new role. He saw something special in the young Dwyane Wade, then only in his second year, and was content to let Wade lead while playing a supporting role.

Reflecting on their bond, Wade once shared on the Club Shay Shay podcast just how natural their connection was. “Shaq is a very honest man to me,” Wade said. “He came in, sat down, and told me, ‘Flash, this is your team. I’m gonna help you become one of the greatest.’”

Wade also recalled how Shaq would call for the ball by raising his right hand, a simple gesture that symbolized their effortless communication. With Shaq’s experience and Wade’s talent, they led the Heat to a 59-win season and an eventual NBA Championship, cementing their legacy as one of the NBA’s most iconic duos. And as Shaq had promised, he indeed helped Wade to climb to the top of the NBA landscape, which is signified by the statue, the first such instance in Heat’s history. And why not? Look how he became synonymous with the Heat.

Dwyane Wade’s statue embodies the Heat’s love for the star

Dwyane Wade was drafted by the Miami Heat in 2003 and was named to the All-Rookie team. He was a 13-time All-Star and was instrumental in leading the Heat to their first NBA title in 2006, while he himself was the MVP in the finals. Alongside LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010, he brought back-to-back championships for the Heat in 2012 and 2013. In his 15 seasons with the Heat, Wade averaged 22.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.7 rebounds, including the 2009 NBA scoring title. No wonder that franchise wanted to immortalize its legend.

Miami Heat President Pat Riley had revealed in January that the team would unveil a statue of Dwyane Wade. In September, they officially announced that the statue would be unveiled on October 27 in front of the Kaseya Center. The ceremony is set to have a musical performance by Rick Ross and Nino Breeze. The Heat will then celebrate the occasion with a ceremony during their October 28 home game against the Detroit Pistons. Wade is set to address the audience at halftime.

“When we retired his jersey in February 2020, I said Dwyane was the face of this franchise forever and I meant it. Dwyane’s legacy is a towering one not only for the Miami Heat but for Miami-Wade County. I can’t think of a better way to honor him than by memorializing that legacy,” Heat President Pat Riley said in a statement in January.

Wade’s statue was made by sculptors Omri Amrany and Oscar León of Rotblatt Amrany Studio, who is also behind the Michael Jordan statue in Chicago, the Kobe Bryant statue in Los Angeles, and the Kobe and Gianna Bryant Memorial Statue in Los Angeles. Wade’s longtime teammate Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler shared what the statue meant to the fans and the city.

“All I do know is as much as he’s done for this organization and for this city and for the game of basketball, he’s beloved by everybody. He’s hated by a lot of people too because he beat up on their favorite teams, rightfully so. I just got so much love, so does this city, so does this organization. So whatever statue there is, just know that it’s all heart inside the statue,” Butler said. We indeed agree that there could not have been more fitting tribute to Wade’s legacy in the Heat’s history.