The Miami Heat will unveil a bronze statue of franchise legend Dwyane Wade outside the Kaseya Center later this year, the team announced Sunday night.
Miami held a ceremony to commemorate Wade’s enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame last year during halftime of the Heat’s 104-87 win over the Charlotte Hornets. During the ceremony, team president Pat Riley announced the news.
“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 a 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 Heat will use sculptors Omri Amrany and Oscar Leon to create the statue; Amrany also worked on statues of Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Dirk Nowitzki and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The unveiling will take place in fall of 2024.
Wade, who retired after the 2018-19 season, holds several franchise records with Miami — including points, assists, steals, games and minutes played. His 16-year career in the NBA included 15 with the Heat, three championships and a Finals MVP in 2006.