Miami Heat To Honor Dwyane Wade With Statue
Perhaps the most recognizable and important Miami Heat player in the franchise will be honored as the first athlete to have a statue in front of the team’s arena.
According to NBA.com, less than a year after being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, retired Heat legend, Dwyane Wade will be the first player in Heat history to have a bronze statue in front of the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat. During a ceremony honoring Wade, Heat president, Pat Riley announced to Wade and the world that the statue will be unveiled next year.
Pat Riley surprises D-Wade with the announcement of a statue coming outside the Kaseya Center ⚡️
Wade will be the first statue in Miami Heat franchise history. pic.twitter.com/ZxsvsjwGKH
— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2024
“When we retired his jersey in February 2020, I said Dwyane was the face of this franchise forever and I meant it,” said Riley in a written statement. “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.”
The team has stated that the unveiling will take place in the fall of 2024 with no exact date scheduled right now. Wade, who retired in 2019, had his jersey retired by the Heat the following year and was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame on August 12, 2023.
He played the majority of his career in Miami except when he left the team after feeling the team wanted to pay him less than he felt he was worth after winning three championships with them. He played one year for his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls before reuniting with former Heat teammate, LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He returned to Miami to finish out his legendary career.
During his career, Wade won three NBA Championships, took home an NBA Finals MVP, and became an NBA All-Star MVP, with 13 All-Star selections. He was selected to two All-NBA First Team selections, three All-NBA Second Team selections, three All-NBA Third Team selections, and three All-Defensive Second Team selections, and was a unanimous All-Rookie Team First Team selection. He represented the country and won a gold and bronze medal with Team USA.
Miami Heat To Honor Dwyane Wade With Statue
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