On Sunday, Dwyane Wade became the first Miami Heat player to have a statue dedicated in his honor.
That’s obviously a major accomplishment for Wade and a significant sign of how respected he is by the Heat organization.
Speaking with Rachel Nichols, Pat Riley talked about why Wade was the team’s choice for the first statue.
He referred to Wade as a cornerstone player, someone the front office always viewed as an icon of the franchise.
Although it took the Heat a few years, they felt giving Wade a state was an easy choice.
However, Riley revealed Wade’s statue won’t be the last celebrating former Heat stars.
On Open Run, Pat Riley chimes in on Dwyane Wade’s statue, sweaty palms and dancing on yachts. pic.twitter.com/qcSIPJ9SYl
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 28, 2024
Many fans lambasted the Wade statue, saying that it doesn’t look anything like the star player.
But even though they might not like the statue itself, the idea behind it has been approved by nearly all Heat fans.
They know that Wade is perhaps the biggest name in the team’s history.
He came to the Heat in 2003 after being chosen as the fifth overall pick in the draft.
He was dynamic right away, scoring 16.2 points and 4.5 assists per game.
Following his rookie year, Wade won 13 All-Star appearances and was also named the league scoring champion in 2008-09.
He won three championships with the Heat and was hailed as the best point guard in the league by numerous analysts.
Wade’s career average of 22 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.4 assists a game proves that Wade is without a doubt one of the most impactful stars in Heat history.
Now that Wade’s statue is up outside of the Heat’s arena, people are asking which player will be next.
NEXT:
Pat Riley Hints That Another Player Might Get A Statue One Day
