DWYANE Wade, a three-time NBA champion, will be commemorated by a statue outside Kaseya Center after his spectacular career in the NBA, notably with the Miami Heat, as announced on Monday (Manila Time).
Wade was recognized on Sunday (Monday Morning – Manila Time) as the Heat celebrated his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023.
“This is the most special thing in this game,” Wade remarked at the ceremony, which took place during halftime of the Heat’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.
“For an individual player to walk away from the game and to look into your body of work, and to know that your body of work is considered a ‘Hall of Fame’ career,” added the fifth overall choice in the 2003 NBA Draft Class.
Heat President Pat Riley then approached Wade at center court, holding a bubblehead figure of the Hall of Famer.
“We got a bobblehead right here. You know, what else are we gonna hang from the rafters? We hung a couple of championship banners, we retired your jersey, so what else are we gonna hang?” Riley joked.
“Out there will be a statue, eight feet tall,” Riley told the crowd. “We want to make sure that it’s bigger than Shaquille O’Neal, and it would be the first statue ever that will be here.”
“It is forever, for the greatest [Heat] player in the history of this game. You know, I love you. Next year will be a statue right here,” Riley went on to say.
Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra expressed his remarks in a post-game press conference following their game against the Charlotte Hornets, which they defeated 104-87.
“Man, it was just an amazing night, you know. Obviously, we get to honor and celebrate our greatest Miami Heat player,” stated head coach Erik Spoelstra.
Spoelstra also expressed his delight whenever he sees the Miami great in attendance at their games. When a guy like Wade comes to their game, it is a huge boost for the entire squad, according to him.
“I love it when he’s in attendance, I wish he could be here a whole lot more. I tell him everytime I see him, and I think it’s important for all the guys in the locker room to see that,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Wade was overcome with emotion as he expressed his gratitude to the whole Miami Heat organization, the city and fans, and the families that supported the notion of erecting a statue in his honor.
“I’m not a person who gets lost for words, I got too many words actually. I didn’t dibam of this, so I’m just very grateful,” Wade said, visibly moved by the announcement of his own statue.
“I thank the Arison family, the Riley family, the city and the state of Miami and Florida, and I can’t wait for families to experience what it’s gonna be like, to kind of have a moment of the culture,” The Flash said as Heat supporters showered him with MVP chants.
Dwyane Wade will be remembered as one of the finest, if not the best, Heat player of all time, as well as probably the best shooting guard in the NBA alongside Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
