Heat Give Dwyane Wade's Statue a New Face After Mockery

The Miami Heat posted photos of the updated statue outside Kaseya Center on Friday, Oct. 30, two years after the original was unveiled and widely panned because its face bore almost no resemblance to the Hall of Famer. The first version debuted on Oct. 27, 2024, and Charles Barkley was among the critics. The work on the new head was finished in just the last few days, behind a plywood box that kept the public from seeing it.

Wade himself approved the change. In an essay published Friday, he said he asked himself why the team wouldn't try to make it better if people didn't feel a connection when they looked at the face. He said the change isn't about erasing the original artists' work or disrespecting them. He also said the statue "may be my likeness," but it will always be Miami's house.

The sculptors, Omri Amrany and Oscar León of Rotblatt Amrany Studio, whose past work includes the Kobe Bryant "Black Mamba" statue and the Kobe and Gianna Bryant memorial, said that after seeing the piece at full scale in its permanent setting, they saw opportunities to strengthen the portrait. They said Wade's importance warranted the refinements. The studio spent about 800 hours on the original.

The statue commemorates a game-winning shot against the Chicago Bulls in March 2009, after which Wade climbed onto a courtside table and shouted "This is my house" to the crowd. The pose reflects that moment, and Wade has described the original as an artistic version of it. Wade is Miami's all-time leading scorer, and he was the first Heat player to receive a statue outside the arena.

Reaction was quick. One fan said the new look was "a whole lot better," and the Heat hosted the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, their first home game since the new head went up.

Back in 2024, Wade shrugged off the jokes, saying he cared and didn't. Two years later, the teasing helped bring a better likeness.