Growing up, Dwyane Wade, a Miami Heat legend, was accustomed to seeing statues honoring older public figures outside buildings, often paying tribute to those who had left a lasting impact. However, Wade finds himself in a different position as the team plans to immortalize him with a statue at Kaseya Center.

Set to be an under-45 celebrity with a larger-than-life representation, Wade admits the idea is still surreal to him. “I’m like 42, I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m getting a statue,'” he shared during a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “I feel like I should be older in life.”

Wade will join the esteemed ranks of players like Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Dominique Wilkins, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, all honored with statues outside arenas. Expressing his excitement, Wade has plans to spend as much time as possible alongside his statue, despite now calling Los Angeles home.

Even with his new West Coast residence, Wade insists on frequent visits to South Florida to connect with his roots and the enduring legacy he left behind. “I told them, ‘What are you guys going to do at nighttime when people want to come and enjoy themselves by my statue?'” Wade remarked. “They were like, ‘We may have security, maybe not.’ I’m talking about myself. I may come at 2 in the morning and bring my music, do my TikTok in front of my own statue… or my podcast.”

As the Miami Heat icon looks forward to this timeless tribute, fans eagerly anticipate the unveiling of the statue, which will undoubtedly stand as a symbol of Wade’s extraordinary contributions to the team and the city he holds dear.

Shandel Richardson, covering the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated, brings a wealth of experience in NBA reporting since 2010.