NBA legend Dwyane Wade will soon become the first player in Miami Heat franchise history to get a statue outside their arena.
The three-time NBA champion is universally considered the face of the franchise and the best player in team history. Since Wade’s retirement in 2019, the Heat retired his No. 3 jersey in 2020 and he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Aug. 2023.
Moreover, D-Wade, who is married to actress Gabrielle Union, is widely regarded as the third-best shooting guard in league history behind only Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. He is, equally important, seen as the man who helped jump-start LeBron James’ championship era.
Therefore, it is apropos that Wade, 41, will be the first player to be immortalized on the campus of the Kaseya Center in Miami.
“When we retired his jersey in February 2020, I said Dwyane was the face of this franchise forever and I meant it,” Riley said in an official statement about the 13-time All-Star. “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 date of the official unveiling will be announced later.
