The Miami Heat’s tribute to Dwyane Wade, a statue recently unveiled outside the Kaseya Center, has stirred intense debate. Fans, analysts, and even former NBA star Charles Barkley have criticized the statue’s design, calling it unflattering. During TNT’s “NBA on TNT” broadcast, Barkley didn’t mince words, calling the statue “ugly” and even suggesting it should be removed.
Charles Barkley Has Some Opinions
“It’s a great honor, but they gotta take that thing down,” Barkley remarked to fellow hosts Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith. Barkley’s criticism was harsh, adding, “If you made an ugly statue, that’s what it would look like. That thing is awful.” He pointed out that the statue’s quality was so poor, they had to display Wade’s career stats beside it, saying, “The statue was so bad they had to put all his stats behind it so you know who it was.”
Barkley’s critique was echoed by other sports commentators. Bill Simmons from The Ringer labeled it “the worst statue of all time,” arguing it didn’t resemble Wade and fell short of capturing his iconic presence. Smith added that the statue appeared more like a caricature than a true representation of Wade’s appearance. “It’s almost like an animated version of his face,” he said, implying that an exaggerated approach didn’t do justice to Wade’s legacy.
Wade, however, remains undeterred. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, he expressed his excitement and pride about the statue. “I’m over the moon,” Wade said, adding, “That’s me back there in an artistic form.” He emphasized the sculpture as an “artistic expression” rather than a strict likeness, capturing his legendary “this is my house” moment from 2009. “Everyone’s got opinions,” Wade shrugged, “but we’re not concerned with no one’s opinion. We wouldn’t have a statue if we were.”
Omri Amrany, one of the statue’s creators, anticipated mixed reactions, noting he expected “a goofy response or angry response” due to its unique style. For now, Wade’s statue stands proudly, stirring conversation and standing as a testament to his impact on the Miami Heat.